TUBERCULOSIS
TB Legislation Moves in Senate
This week, legislation to reauthorize and expand U.S. international TB control efforts advanced in the U.S. Senate. The bill, End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2022 (H. R. 8654/S. 3386), introduced by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) was passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Parallel legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) and Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and is expected to be considered by the House Foreign Affairs Committee in the near future.
The End Tuberculosis Now Act strengthens and streamlines U.S. efforts to fight TB, including by increasing support for the World Health Organization’s End TB Strategy and the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Plan to End TB. The bill also prioritizes strengthening programs, providing high-quality services, and supporting research and development of innovative diagnostics, drug therapies, and vaccines. Finally, it requires annual reports to Congress about tuberculosis-related foreign assistance and the development of new technologies, as well as regular evaluations by the Government Accountability Office.
The ATS is one of the lead organizations supporting the bill and is part of a broad coalition of public health organizations working to enact this important legislation.
Last Reviewed: December 2022
