[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 103 (Monday, June 25, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1406-E1407]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2007

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill--(H.R. 2764) 
     making appropriations for the Department of State,

[[Page E1407]]

     foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes:

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Payne amendment and 
thank my colleague for working with Chairwoman Lowey in drafting this 
amendment.
  Over the last month the entire country has awakened to the threat of 
XDR-TB (Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis). The simple fact of 
the matter is that we can prevent XDR-TB and the less dangerous MDR-TB 
(Multi-drug resistant TB) with better TB control programs that ensure 
that people who are taking drugs for TB stay on their medicines, and 
avoid developing drug resistance.
  XDR-TB has already been found in over 37 countries around the world. 
However, due to inadequate lab facilities around the world we don't 
truly know how far XDR-TB has spread.
  Additional funding provided by the Payne amendment would help us 
address some of these issues. I want to again thank my colleague 
Representative Payne for offering this amendment and for working with 
Chairwoman Lowey to ensure that we increase funding for Tuberculosis 
programs in the State-Foreign Ops bill this year.
  I look forward to continuing to work with both of my colleagues and 
the committee to ensure that TB continues to get the funding and 
attention it deserves.

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