End Tuberculosis Now Act

Summary#

This bill, the End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2026, amends section 104B of the Foreign Assistance Act to authorize U.S. international assistance to prevent, detect, treat, and help eliminate tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. It lists priorities such as expanding diagnosis and treatment for all forms of TB (including latent and drug-resistant TB), increasing active case finding and contact tracing, improving infection control in congregate settings, supporting procurement of quality TB medicines and diagnostics (including annual support for the Global Drug Facility), funding research and vaccine development, and strengthening health worker training and health systems. The President is directed to set goals for 2027–2030, including targets to reduce TB incidence by 80% and TB mortality by 90% from 2015 levels, diagnose and start treatment for 90% of incident TB cases, achieve 90% treatment success, and provide TB preventive treatment to 30,000,000 people. The bill requires annual reporting on program activities and expenditures, an annual research and development report, and a Comptroller General evaluation within four years. The amendment sunsets (ends) on January 1, 2033.

What it means for you#

  • The United States may provide and prioritize funding and technical support to countries with high TB burdens to find, diagnose, treat, and prevent TB.
  • U.S. programs would focus on expanding testing (including molecular diagnostics), treating drug-resistant TB, training health workers, and strengthening laboratory and supply systems.
  • The law sets concrete global targets for 2027–2030 and requires regular public reporting on progress and spending.
  • The bill does not itself list specific dollar amounts or appropriations; it authorizes the President to furnish assistance on terms the President determines.

Expenses#

  • The bill authorizes the President to furnish assistance but does not specify total funding amounts or new appropriations.
  • It requires annual reports that must include a breakdown of expenditures for patient care, procurement of drugs and commodities, drug management, training, and health systems strengthening.
  • No specific cost estimates or funding levels are provided in the bill text or metadata.

Proponents' View#

  • The bill text states that TB remains an international public health challenge and that additional tools and resources are needed to diagnose, prevent, and treat TB.
  • It says well-resourced TB programs can support responses to future respiratory disease pandemics and aligns with stated U.S. global health goals.
  • Proponents, as reflected in the bill, favor accelerating diagnosis and treatment, expanding prevention, supporting research and vaccine development, and improving program monitoring and accountability.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.