Representative Heather Wilson: “I wanted to commend him for all his work on funding for global efforts to fight tuberculosis. This bill will allocate…”

“I wanted to commend him for all his work on funding for global efforts to fight tuberculosis. This bill will allocate $185 million for infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, from the United States Agency For International Development, $46 million more than the President requested. This is in addition to the roughly $68 million for TB in the Global Fund and $17.5 million from other accounts. In a bill where several other programs received cuts in funding, I appreciate the gentleman's efforts to continue our commitment to combat global TB at a level at least equal to last year. I am concerned about funding for the Global TB Drug Facility. The United States contributed $3 million to the Global TB Drug Facility last year and would do so again next year in this bill. The STOP TB partnership, which includes 50 world organizations, including the WHO, recommended a commitment by the U.S. of $50 million each year to reach the most people possible. The Global TB Drug Facility has successfully treated 3 million people in three years for tuberculosis. Funds from the facility can successfully treat tuberculosis for just $10 per person.”