Foreign Affairs Committee Passes Salazar-Led Legislation to Eradicate Tuberculosis Globally

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This Wednesday, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs passed bipartisan public health legislation led by Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) and Congressman Ami Bera (CA-07). This legislation signals an end for tuberculosis and will save millions of lives.

Introduced by Rep. Salazar and Bera, H.R. 8654 is designed to effectively prevent, treat, and eradicate tuberculosis (TB) globally. The bill ensures U.S. public health standards for TB control efforts align with the objectives established by the international community, directs U.S. resources for programs that reduce TB deaths and incidence rates, and establishes Congressional oversight over the performance and impact of TB response activities.

BACKGROUND:

TB is the world’s most deadly infectious disease. Out of 10.6 million cases in 2021, it has claimed the lives of 1.6 million people (a ~15% mortality rate). More than 1 in 3 of people infected with TB are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. It is critical the United States remain the lead funder of global TB research and development. American leadership and American-led research and innovation will continue to be critical in ending this disease that has been a scourge on humanity throughout human history.

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