Kean, Norcross introduce bipartisan SEPSIS Act to boost U.S. response to life-threatening condition
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reps. Tom Kean Jr. and Donald Norcross on Thursday introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at strengthening the national response to sepsis, a life-threatening condition triggered by the body’s extreme reaction to infection or traumatic injury.
The measure, called the Securing Enhanced Programs, Systems and Initiatives for Sepsis Act, would direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to dedicate staff and resources to sepsis, create an education program to help hospitals adopt best practices for prevention and treatment, and provide Congress updates on progress in reducing deaths and complications, according to the lawmakers.
The bill also calls for the development of a national outcome measure and creates a recognition program to highlight hospitals with effective prevention and treatment efforts.
“Sepsis can impact anyone – young or old, sick or healthy – and preventing deaths depends on early recognition and timely intervention,” said Congressman Kean. “Today, Congressman Norcross and I are introducing this bipartisan legislation to strengthen sepsis care through expanded education, national information-sharing on best practices, and improved pediatric data collection. New Jersey has long been a leader in the fight against sepsis, and I am grateful to partner with a fellow member of our state’s delegation to bring this critical effort to the federal level.”
Norcross said the issue is personal. He said he developed sepsis after a medical emergency on an airplane last year and credited medical staff with saving his life.
“Last year, I experienced a medical emergency on an airplane and developed sepsis, a medical condition caused by a severe infection. Each year, 1.7 million people in the United States develop sepsis and it is the third leading cause of death in American hospitals. I was one of the lucky ones,” said Congressman Norcross. “I am here today because of the excellent doctors and nurses who saved my life, but too many families aren’t as lucky. With the SEPSIS Act, we can change that. We can save lives and reduce the devastating toll this condition has on our loved ones.”
END SEPSIS, a nonprofit group formed after the death of 12-year-old Rory Staunton, praised the bill and called for early detection and accountability to become the national standard.
“We thank Congressman Norcross and Congressman Kean for their unwavering leadership in championing this lifesaving sepsis legislation,” said Ciaran and Orlaith Staunton, founders of END SEPSIS, The Legacy of Rory Staunton. “Thirteen years ago, sepsis claimed the life of our 12-year-old son, Rory. That heartbreak changed our lives forever-and it fuels our fight today. Today, sepsis still takes hundreds of thousands of lives each year while costing our healthcare system $64 billion annually. This bill is a critical step toward making early detection, timely treatment, and accountability the national standard—so preventable sepsis deaths become the exception, not the rule. Our son Rory loved helping people, lifting others up whenever he could. In this moment, he is still lifting us all, urging us to fight harder and do better.”
The New Jersey Hospital Association also backed the legislation.
“New Jersey hospitals have made significant investments in evidence-based protocols, staff training and quality improvement to identify and treat sepsis as early as possible. Continued attention to sepsis – such as this important legislation – is critical to supporting hospitals’ ongoing efforts to save lives,” said Cathy Bennett, New Jersey Hospital Association President and CEO.
A companion bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Chuck Schumer, Susan Collins and Andy Kim, the lawmakers said. Supporters include END Sepsis Inc., Sepsis Alliance, the American Hospital Association, the Federation of American Hospitals, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, the New Jersey Hospital Association and the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America, according to the sponsors.
Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in hospitals, killing more than 350,000 Americans each year and costing the health care system billions, the lawmakers said.
In April 2025, Norcross was hospitalized with a gallbladder infection that developed into sepsis and left him in critical condition, the release said. He later recovered.
