*EPF310 03/21/01
Text: House Calls For Worldwide Campaign Against Tuberculosis
(H. Res. 67 passed March 20 in House of Representatives) (840)
The House of Representatives passed a resolution March 20 that calls for the United States to recognize the importance of fighting tuberculosis (TB) on a worldwide basis and highlights the impact that disease has on minority populations in the United States.
House Resolution 67 (H. Res. 67) passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 405 to 2 with 25 not voting.
Representative Silvestre Reyes (Democrat of Texas) introduced H. Res. 67 in the House of Representatives February 27 to enhance U.S. efforts to battle tuberculosis, which the resolution estimates afflicts between 10 to 15 million people in the United States.
Reyes, chairman of the Hispanic Caucus in the 107th Congress, was joined by 16 co-sponsors in endorsing increased American efforts to fight a disease that kills one person somewhere in the world every 15 seconds.
The resolution would have the United States increase funding in international tuberculosis control within the foreign aid budget for fiscal year 2002, and calls upon the President and other leaders "to commit to putting an end to the worldwide TB epidemic."
Reyes, a member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, cites in the resolution the disparate impact of tuberculosis on minority populations in the United States.
The resolution's sponsors said that African Americans suffer from TB "at a rate that is eight times greater than that of Caucasians, Latinos at six times greater, Native Americans at five times greater and Asians at a rate of nearly fifteen times greater."
To control the disease in the United States, the resolution says, "it is necessary to control TB in the developing countries that contribute the vast majority of the global TB burden and are the destination of tens of thousands of American visitors each year."
The resolution urges a worldwide effort to eradicate the disease, similar to the one that ended smallpox.
Following is the March 20 text of the resolution, as provided by the Congressional Record:
(begin text)
Recognizing the importance of combatting tuberculosis on a worldwide basis, and acknowledging the severe impact that TB has on minority populations in the United States.
(Introduced in the House)
HRES 67 IH
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 67
Recognizing the importance of combatting tuberculosis on a worldwide basis, and acknowledging the severe impact that TB has on minority populations in the United States.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 20, 2001
Mr. REYES (for himself and Mr. RODRIGUEZ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the importance of combatting tuberculosis on a worldwide basis, and acknowledging the severe impact that TB has on minority populations in the United States.
Whereas tuberculosis is a horrible disease that is preventable and treatable;
Whereas one third of the world's population is infected with the TB bacteria, including between 10 and 15 million people in the United States;
Whereas someone in the world dies of TB every 15 seconds;
Whereas TB will kill more people this year than any other year in history;
Whereas TB rates are substantially higher for minorities in the United States;
Whereas African Americans suffer from TB at a rate that is eight times greater than that of Caucasians, Latinos at six times greater, Native Americans at five times greater and Asians at a rate of nearly fifteen times greater;
Whereas a substantial number of States have TB rates above the national average, the highest rates being found in Texas, Hawaii, California, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, and New York;
Whereas the increased threat of TB emerging in the United States is an unavoidable byproduct of increased international travel, commerce, and migration;
Whereas leading TB experts agree that in order to control TB in the United States, it is necessary to control TB in the developing countries that contribute the vast majority of the global TB burden and are the destination of tens of thousands of American visitors each year; and
Whereas it is possible to control tuberculosis worldwide, as the global community eradicated smallpox and may soon eradicate polio, if the worldwide political will to do so is found: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the importance of increasing United States investment in international tuberculosis control within the foreign aid budget for fiscal year 2002;
(2) recognizes the importance of supporting and expanding domestic efforts to eliminate TB in the United States; and
(3) calls upon local, national and global leaders, including the President of the United States, to commit to putting an end to the worldwide TB epidemic.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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