Bill S.2531, also known as the 'Rare Act of 2020', is a law proposal that aims to better tackle rare diseases. It plans to do this by improving how we create treatments for these diseases, making it easier to diagnose them, and increasing our knowledge about them. This would be achieved by expanding the activities of the National Institutes of Health. The bill also suggests setting up a national advisory council for rare diseases and a comprehensive information database about these diseases.
Media outlets that support the bill emphasize its potential to revolutionize the approach to rare diseases. They highlight the bill's focus on early detection and intervention for diseases like uterine fibroids, which can have a significant impact on women's health. They also praise the proposed creation of a comprehensive information database, which could serve as a valuable resource for researchers, healthcare professionals, and patients alike.
Critics in the media, however, have raised concerns about the bill. They question the feasibility of such a broad and ambitious undertaking, citing concerns about potential bureaucratic hurdles and the need for substantial funding. Some also express skepticism about whether the proposed measures would actually lead to tangible improvements in patient care, diagnostics, and treatment development.
The bill S. 2531, sponsored by Angela Alsobrooks, is focused on health services, specifically the early detection and intervention of uterine fibroids. The top donor industries for the sponsor are Retired, Securities & Investment, and Government, none of which directly overlap with the bill's subject matter. Therefore, there is no direct conflict of interest between the sponsor's donors and the bill. However, there is lobbying activity in the bill's policy area, with various organizations spending money to influence the outcome. The highest spender is the National Right to Work Committee, which spent $150,000. However, there is no clear connection between these lobbying activities and the sponsor's donors. Thus, based on the available data, the risk of a conflict of interest is low.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL RIGHT TO WORK COMMITTEE | THE NATIONAL RIGHT TO WORK COMMITTEE | $150,000 |
| NOVIG | MABRY PUBLIC AFFAIRS LLC | $90,000 |
| SABINE-NECHES NAVIGATION DISTRICT | MABRY PUBLIC AFFAIRS LLC | $70,000 |
| AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION | AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION | $50,000 |
| CEDAR PORT NAVIGATION AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT | MABRY PUBLIC AFFAIRS LLC | $50,000 |
| LHOIST NORTH AMERICA, INC. | CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES, INC. | $50,000 |
| THE YATES COMPANIES, INC. | MABRY PUBLIC AFFAIRS LLC | $45,000 |
| COHNREZNICK LLP | MABRY PUBLIC AFFAIRS LLC | $30,000 |
| GOLDEN PASS LNG TERMINAL LLC - FKA - GOLDEN PASS PRODUCTS LLC | MABRY PUBLIC AFFAIRS LLC | $30,000 |
| ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC | SUSAN PLATT | $30,000 |
| PIMA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT | BRACY TUCKER BROWN & VALANZANO, INC. | $24,000 |
| LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY | MABRY PUBLIC AFFAIRS LLC | $20,000 |
| ALLIANCE OF MARINE MAMMAL PARKS AND AQUARIUMS | BLUE SKY CAPITOL CONSULTING, LLC | $20,000 |
| THE ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL ILLUSTRATORS | LEHMAN NILON & ASSOCIATES, LLC | undisclosed |
| NATIONAL COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYERS | NATIONAL COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYERS | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Angela Alsobrooks, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)