[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 117 (Friday, August 1, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S10911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Inouye, Ms. 
        Landrieu, Mr. Bingaman, and Mrs. Murray):
  S. 1559. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect 
to making progress toward the goal of eliminating tuberculosis, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is a privilege to join my colleagues 
Senator Hutchison, Senator Inouye, Senator Landrieu, Senator Bingaman, 
and Senator Murray in introducing the ``Comprehensive Tuberculosis 
Elimination Act''. With the evolution of modern medicine, especially in 
recent years, we have the actual opportunity to do that now--eliminate 
this century-old public health threat in the United States. 
Tuberculosis was once the leading cause of death in America. In recent 
decades, developments in science and public health have transformed 
tuberculosis into a preventable and treatable disease. Yet, every year, 
thousands of Americans still become infected and die from tuberculosis.
  Experts agree that we have the ability to eliminate it. What's 
lacking is a strong national commitment to do it. More than 50 years 
ago, when the first effective drugs to treat TB were introduced and 
case rates began to decline, we began making slow but steady progress, 
and we might have eliminated it. But instead, the declining number of 
cases led to complacency and neglect. In fact, Federal categorical 
funding for TB control and prevention was discontinued in 1972, and 
wasn't restored until 1981. Efforts to control the disease broke down 
in many parts of the country.
  In the late 1980s, cases rose by 20 percent increase in TB and drug-
resistant strains began nationwide systems for dealing with the 
infection had been allowed to deteriorate. In New York City alone, more 
than $1 billion was needed to regain control of TB.
  After considerable effort, TB control was re-established and rates 
again began declining. Today, with the low number of infections and the 
expertise of public health officials, we have the opportunity to 
eradicate TB from the Nation once and for all.
  The Institute of Medicine has developed guidelines to do so, and in 
this bipartisan legislation, my colleagues and I proposed to implement 
the guidelines by authorizing $235 million for the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention to expand and intensify our prevention, control, 
and elimination efforts.
  Our bill also expands support for vaccine development at the National 
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Experts estimate that 
$240 million will be needed to develop a safe and effective vaccine. 
Our legislation authorizes $136 million in 2004 and $162 million in 
2005, with the goal of committing the necessary resources to make the 
vaccine available by 2008 at the latest.
  We cannot allow tuberculosis to take more American lives when we have 
the ability to prevent it. It's time for a new and sustained commitment 
to the fight against tuberculosis. I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation, and I look forward to its enactment.
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