Hoosier State Today

Yesterday, the United States Senate unanimously passed the End Tuberculosis Now Act, legislation introduced by Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) to prioritize the elimination of tuberculosis (TB) as a foreign assistance goal for the United States. The bipartisan bill aims to enhance U.S. and international coordination in research, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of TB, one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases. The legislation seeks to modernize U.S. engagement in the global effort to end TB 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 it in 2021 and 2023. The legislation mandates that the U.S. update its strategies to address tuberculosis with innovative diagnostics, therapies, vaccines, and align more closely with the World Health Organization's End TB Strategy. It also calls for enhanced coordination with entities such as the Stop TB Partnership and the Global Fund alongside other U.S. agencies providing bilateral tuberculosis assistance.

The bill requires annual reports to Congress on tuberculosis-related foreign assistance and technological developments while mandating regular evaluations by the Government Accountability Office.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.