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The Cure Hepatitis C Act 2025 introduced by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) aims to establish a national program to eliminate hepatitis C in the United States. The bill focuses on expanding access to treatment, particularly for vulnerable populations like those in Medicaid, correctional facilities and the uninsured through an innovative model which allows the federal government to negotiate an agreement with 1 or 2 pharmaceutical companies for unlimited access to HCV medications for these populations in exchange for a fixed annual fee to the drug company.
As the bill moves through the legislative process, massive grassroots advocacy is needed to ensure that it gets the necessary co-sponsorships to pass. To this end, TAG organized community webinar on July 29 for community organizations and advocates to raise awareness about the bill, and to prepare them to meet and engage with their Senators during the August recess in their district offices or Town Hall meetings to share their lived and living personal experiences and stories on HCV, and the need to ensure the bill passes. The recording of the wbinar is below.
Action Alert
Urge Your Senators to Cosponsor the Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025
On June 4, 2025, the Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025 (S.1941) was introduced by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). This is the most comprehensive hepatitis C specific bill ever introduced in Congress. It would authorize funding for HCV testing and treatment and for the infrastructure needed to treat people in the settings where they access care. In addition to saving lives and moving the United States toward elimination of HCV, the bill would also save over $6 billion by avoiding costly health care due to advanced liver disease, liver cancer, and transplants.
This bill can become law – but only with strong grassroots action from the community. Members of Congress must hear from us about why it is important that they support the bill.
TAG has developed this Action Alert to provide guidance on specific actions that you can take this month to help pass this bill. Some actions will take a few minutes and others will take longer. All of them will make a huge difference.
Right now, the focus is on the Senate as there is not yet a version of the bill introduced in the House of Representatives. We are trying to get as many Senators as possible to cosponsor the bill. The more cosponsors, the greater the likelihood that the bill will come up for a vote and move through the process. Our goal in August is to reach as many Senators as possible and urge them to cosponsor S.1941.
Communicate with Your Senator’s Washington, DC office:
Contact your Senator’s health care and district staff. Identify your Senators and review their webpages. Write down their Washington, DC office phone number and the phone number of their district office closest to you.
Email the staff person in your Senator’s office who handles health care issues. Staff members are the eyes and ears of the Senator and are the ones who will bring forward your request. You can get the name and email address of the staff members by calling the Washington, DC office and telling whoever answers the phone:
“Hello, I live in (state). I would like to get the name and email address of the staff member who handles health care issues for the Senator.”
Once you have this information, email the health care staff member with the following message:
“Dear (name),
My name is (name) and I live in (city, state). I am writing as a constituent to urge Senator (name) to cosponsor S.1941, The Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025. This lifesaving bill will help move the United States toward eliminating hepatitis C. This legislation is important to me because (add 1-2 sentences letting them know why you care about this bill. Personal stories are an important way to let our elected officials know why they should care about an issue).
Take Action During the August Recess:
The Senate is on its August recess until September 4th. This means they are back home in their states working in their district offices. Some of them will host Town Hall meetings with their constituents and/or participate in community events where you might have access to them. This is a great time to get messages to your Senators when they are much more available. You can call your district office and ask if the Senator will be hosting any Town Halls or other local events during the August recess.
If they will, you can use the opportunity to urge them to cosponsor S.1941. Prepare your talking points in advance. You will likely have no more than 30-60 seconds to deliver your remarks. Let them know that the bill is bipartisan and, most importantly, let them know why the bill is important to you.
A very effective way of advocating with your Senators is by having a district visit with them or their staff. That allows you to have more time to discuss the bill and why they should support it. Below are some steps on how to schedule and facilitate a district visit.
- Call the district office. Identify as a constituent.
- Let them know you would like to schedule a district visit in August to talk about viral hepatitis legislation. They will let you know how to schedule a visit. You might have to email a scheduler or fill out a form on their website. If you don’t get a response, don’t give up. Sometimes it takes a few emails to get a meeting scheduled.
- The meeting can be in person in the district office or it can be virtual.
If the meeting is scheduled:
- Invite others to join you, including people who can also bring their personal stories and experiences.
- Prepare in advance and make sure everyone has a role in the meeting.
- Let us know if you have a meeting scheduled. We can help by providing talking points, background information, and a tips sheet on how to have a productive district visit. Contact Ryan Clary, clary@treatmentactionnetwork.org.
Thank you for taking action! Let us know that you’ve sent emails, participated in a Town Hall meeting, and/or held a district visit and any responses or questions you’ve received. Please share this Alert widely and encourage others to make their voices heard.
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