Young praises Senate passage of End Tuberculosis Now Act

Sunday, September 22, 2024 at 7:00 PM

Yesterday, the United States Senate unanimously passed the End Tuberculosis Now Act, legislation introduced by Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) to make the elimination of tuberculosis (TB) a foreign assistance priority for the United States. By improving U.S. and international coordination and prioritization of research and diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, the bipartisan legislation would advance and modernize U.S. engagement in the global fight to end TB worldwide by 2035.

“Tuberculosis is a preventable, treatable, and curable disease. More than 25 years after it was declared a public health emergency, TB still remains one of the deadliest infectious health threats and often goes undiagnosed in many countries. Senate passage of this legislation is the first step in demonstrating U.S. leadership to find and treat TB, reduce the stigma, and better target this curable disease. I urge my colleagues in the House to take up this important bill as soon as possible,” said Senator Young.

Senator Young first introduced the End Tuberculosis Now Act in 2019, and reintroduced the bill in 2021 and 2023. In addition to mandating that the U.S. update its strategies to address tuberculosis with innovative diagnostics, therapies and vaccines, and to better align with the World Health Organization End TB Strategy, the legislation calls for more robust coordination with the Stop TB Partnership and the Global Fund, and other U.S. agencies providing bilateral tuberculosis assistance. The legislation also requires annual reports to Congress about tuberculosis-related foreign assistance and the development of new technologies, in addition to regular evaluations by the Government Accountability Office.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.