2018

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Senators Urge Strong USG Engagement at UN TB Meeting

This week, a bipartisan group of 43 senators wrote to President Trump urging strong U.S. government (USG) leadership and engagement at the upcoming United Nations High Level Meeting on TB (UNHLM), the first-ever high-level UN event dedicated to TB, being held on Sept. 26, 2018 in New York. The letter authored by Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Todd Young (R-IN), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), marks a historic high in bipartisan Senate support for efforts against TB. The letter urges the USG to ensure a strong USG agency delegation and emphasizes the following priorities for the upcoming UN meeting:

  • Close gaps in TB diagnosis, treatment and prevention;
  • Ensure that the TB response is equitable, rights-based and people-centered;
  • Accelerate development of new TB tools;
  • Invest necessary funds to end TB;
  • Commit to robust accountability mechanisms, including regular UN reporting and review.

A similar letter authored by the House TB Elimination Caucus secured 106 bipartisan signors. The outcome of the UN meeting is expected to be a political declaration agreed on by countries setting ambitious new goals for accelerating progress against TB, including TB control funding commitments. The ATS thanks all ATS members who asked their senators to sign the UN TB letter.

Last Reviewed: September 7, 2018