; and emotional or physical neglect have been shown to negatively impact a person’s long-term health and wellbeing. (3) Adverse childhood experiences and associated conditions such as living in under-resourced or racially segregated neighborhoods, frequently moving, experiencing food insecurity, and other instability can cause toxic stress, a prolonged activation of the stress-response system. (4) Experiencing one or more adverse childhood experiences is associated with higher risks of some of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. (5) More than half of all Americans have experienced one or more adverse childhood experiences. (6) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recognized adverse childhood experiences as a major public health concern and made it a priority area for focus in the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (7) Further research is needed to better define adverse childhood experiences, understand the causal pathway between adverse childhood experiences and physical health outcomes, and identify protective factors against adverse childhood experiences and their effects, in order to inform and improve current programs and future efforts to promote public health. (8) Evidence-based prevention and mitigation strategies to address adverse childhood experiences have been identified, but efforts are needed to facilitate implementation in communities. 2. Supporting research on adverse childhood experiences Part J of title III of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 280b et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 393D ( 42 U.S.C. 280b–1f ) the following: 393E. Supporting research on preventing or remediating adverse childhood experiences (a) In general The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may, in cooperation with the States, collect and report data on adverse childhood experiences through the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the