[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 47 (Monday, March 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           INTRODUCING THE STOP TUBERCULOSIS NOW ACT OF 2007

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                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 19, 2007

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction 
of the Stop Tuberculosis Now Act of 2007.
  As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I know all too 
well how necessary comprehensive international tuberculosis control is. 
It is remarkable in this day and age, with treatment available, that TB 
is the biggest infectious killer of young women in the world. In fact, 
TB kills more women than all causes of maternal mortality. As you know, 
TB is also the leading killer of people with AIDS. TB accounts for more 
than one quarter of all preventable adult deaths in developing 
countries.
  I strongly believe that the global community, with the United States 
in the lead, must do more to adequately address this disease by 
investing in quality TB control programs, using the groundbreaking 
Global Plan to Stop TB as a guide. It is for that reason that I am 
introducing the Stop TB Now Act which will make the appropriate 
investments towards achieving the goals of the Global Plan. My bill 
calls for a U.S. investment of $400 million for international TB 
control in FY08 and $550 million in FY09.
  I believe that if we don't make bold--and wise--investments in 
international TB control, not only will we fail to save millions of 
lives and miss out on the many accompanying benefits of controlling 
this killer, but also that this disease will become far more difficult 
and costly to treat.
  Extremely Drug Resistant TB highlights this danger. It has been found 
on six continents, is a growing epidemic in southern Africa, and is 
already reported to be here in the United States. Regular (non drug-
resistant) TB is curable with drugs that cost just $16 in most 
developing countries. Cases of drug-resistant TB, however, can cost 
thousands of dollars to cure, with treatment that is far more difficult 
for patients and practitioners. Drug-resistant TB is a manmade problem 
and is caused by poor TB treatment. We have the power to prevent drug-
resistant TB and the power to treat and control regular TB, and yet we 
have not chosen to do so.
  Madam Speaker, the adoption of the Stop TB Now Act of 2007 would have 
a profound effect on our efforts to improve global tuberculosis 
control. I ask my colleagues to cosponsor this bill today.

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