Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-5) has signed on as a cosponsor of the HEADACHE Act, H.R. 5536, as of October 1, 2026. That brings total House support to 51 members.
What this means for MO-5
An estimated 116,044 people in MO-5 live with a headache disorder, out of roughly 773,627 residents. Every one of them stands to benefit from the coordinated federal response the HEADACHE Act would create: better epidemiological data, a larger trained clinical workforce, and headache disorders finally treated as the public health priority their prevalence warrants.
Specialist access in Missouri
Missouri has 19 UCNS-certified headache specialists serving an estimated 926,694 residents living with a headache disorder. That ranks 10th of 50 states for specialist access. Nationally there are fewer than 900 certified specialists for more than 40 million patients.
Veterans in MO-5
MO-5 is home to the Kansas City VA Medical Center in Kansas City, one of just 29 VA Headache Centers of Excellence nationwide. Veterans develop headache disorders at sharply elevated rates, with up to 92% of service members who sustain a mild traumatic brain injury going on to develop post-traumatic headache.
Rep. Cleaver joins 1 other member of the Missouri delegation already backing the bill.
Say thank you
A short note from a constituent carries real weight with a congressional office, and members who have already signed on are the ones best positioned to recruit their colleagues. Send Rep. Cleaver a message, or check where your own representatives stand.