DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2025
Key claim: The DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2025 would give statutory authority to the NIH program for Down syndrome research and training, require stakeholder consultation and non-duplication, and mandate biennial reports to Congress.
Abstract
(HR3491 · 119th Congress) DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2025 This bill provides statutory authority for a program of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that carries out research and training relating to Down syndrome, including with respect to co-occurring conditions and improving the quality of life of affected individuals. The NIH must implement the program in consultation with relevant stakeholders and avoid duplicating existing NIH Down syndrome research. Biennially, the NIH must submit to Congress a report cataloging the research, including results that may be used in medical care or clinical research. Latest action (2026-07-21): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Why this matters
The INCLUDE Project currently operates as an NIH-funded initiative subject to annual appropriations discretion; statutory codification would give it a durable legal basis and impose ongoing reporting and consultation duties. For patients with Down syndrome and researchers studying co-occurring conditions like Alzheimer’s, autoimmune disease, and congenital heart disease, this affects whether a dedicated federal research pipeline continues across administrations.