Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY-9) has signed on as a cosponsor of the HEADACHE Act, H.R. 5536, as of October 1, 2026. That brings total House support to 54 members.
What this means for NY-9
An estimated 113,476 people in NY-9 live with a headache disorder, out of roughly 756,507 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 New York
New York has 84 UCNS-certified headache specialists serving an estimated 2,951,575 residents living with a headache disorder. That ranks 3rd of 50 states for specialist access. Nationally there are fewer than 900 certified specialists for more than 40 million patients.
Veterans in NY-9
There is no VA Headache Center of Excellence in NY-9. The nearest site is in Manhattan, NYC, NY, about 6 miles from the district office. With only 29 such centers nationwide, most veterans living with post-traumatic headache have no specialized VA care within reach.
Rep. Clarke joins 9 other members of the New York 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. Clarke a message, or check where your own representatives stand.