U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, MD, and Maria Elvira Salazar re-introduced the End Tuberculosis Now Act, comprehensive bipartisan legislation to make the elimination of tuberculosis a foreign assistance priority for the United States.
The ATS worked closely with Rep. Bera and Rep. Salazer to draft legislation to expand U.S. efforts to control TB globally. The legislation mandates that the CDC update its strategies to address tuberculosis with innovative diagnostics, therapies and vaccines, and to better align with the World Health Organization’s End TB Strategy. The legislation also calls for more robust coordination with the Stop TB Partnership and the Global Fund, and among U.S. agencies providing bilateral tuberculosis assistance. In addition, the legislation requires annual reports to Congress about tuberculosis-related foreign assistance and the development of new technologies.
“I am pleased that Rep. Bera and Rep. Salazar are continuing to lead the effort to expand US efforts on TB control. The ATS will continue push for enactment of this important TB control legislation,” says ATS member David Lewinsohn, MD, PhD.