DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2026

The bill, S.1838, passed the Senate on August 6, 2026, by voice vote with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. It is now awaiting action in the House. The legislation amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the NIH Office of the Director, to carry out a program of research, training, and investigation related to Down syndrome, known as the INCLUDE Project. The bill includes findings on Down syndrome prevalence and co-occurring conditions but does not specify an authorized funding amount. As an authorization bill, it sets policy and spending ceilings but does not allocate actual money; separate appropriations legislation would be required to fund the program. The bipartisan sponsorship (9 cosponsors including Republicans and Democrats) and unanimous consent passage in the Senate indicate broad support, but the lack of a House companion bill and the procedural nature of authorization limit immediate market relevance. No specific companies or sectors beyond healthcare research are directly affected, and the bill does not create procurement or contracting opportunities for publicly traded firms. The legislative path forward requires House passage and presidential signature, but even then, funding depends on future appropriations.