End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2026
Introduced June 11, 2026 · Last action June 11, 2026
Plain English Summary
This bill authorizes federal funding and programs to prevent, diagnose, treat, and cure tuberculosis (TB) in countries around the world. It establishes new international TB control initiatives, research funding, and partnerships with global health organizations and pharmaceutical companies working on TB drugs and vaccines.
Who benefits
Tuberculosis patients in developing countries; pharmaceutical companies that manufacture TB drugs and vaccines (Sanofi, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, TB Alliance); global health NGOs (Partners in Health, Stop TB Partnership, USAID contractors); academic medical centers and research institutions receiving TB research grants; countries with high TB burdens seeking U.S. technical and financial support
Who pays / loses
U.S. taxpayers funding the international health programs through federal appropriations; competing domestic health priorities that may receive lower funding allocation if TB program funding is capped
Funding & Lobbying Interests
Pharmaceutical manufacturers producing TB treatments and vaccines have financial interest in expanded global TB markets and U.S.-funded procurement. Global health NGOs and USAID implementing partners benefit from contract awards. Academic tuberculosis research centers benefit from research funding. Public health agencies in TB-endemic countries benefit from technical and financial support. The Gates Foundation and other private foundations focusing on infectious disease control in developing countries support similar initiatives.
Political Impact
Affected Groups
Approximately 10 million people diagnosed with active TB annually worldwide, with 95% in low- and middle-income countries (primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia); health workers in resource-limited TB programs; patients with drug-resistant TB strains requiring expensive treatment regimens
Political Subtext
Proponents frame TB control as a global health security imperative and moral obligation to prevent deaths in poor countries; they emphasize that containing TB internationally prevents its spread to the United States. Critics argue foreign aid should be limited and prioritize domestic health needs; they may question the cost-effectiveness of overseas programs compared to domestic health spending. Non-partisan evidence shows TB remains a leading infectious disease killer globally (approximately 1.3 million deaths annually), and that early treatment and prevention programs are cost-effective at reducing disease burden, though program implementation quality varies significantly by country.
Real-World Stakes
If passed, the U.S. will expand its TB control footprint globally, increasing procurement of TB drugs and supporting health infrastructure in endemic regions. Historical analogues: the U.S. TB Assistance Program (established 1998) and PEPFAR (launched 2003 for HIV/AIDS) demonstrate that sustained international disease control funding can reduce TB incidence in recipient countries, though impact depends on local governance and health system capacity. Countries receiving concentrated PEPFAR resources showed measurable reductions in AIDS mortality. Conversely, countries with weak health systems struggled to sustain gains after initial U.S. support ended, indicating that funding alone is insufficient without institutional strengthening.
Sponsor
Co-sponsors (1)
DSen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Vote Record
No recorded votes.
Campaign Finance — Primary Sponsor
Top contributing industries
Other$118,150
Finance$22,150
Construction$6,700
Transportation$5,000
Technology$2,675
501(c)(4) disclosure: Contributions from 501(c)(4) "dark money" organizations are not required to be publicly disclosed and are not reflected in the figures above. Data sourced from FEC public disclosure filings.
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