{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-applauds-release-of-national-action-plan-to-address-drug-resistant-tuberculosis", "Brown Applauds Release of National Action Plan to Address Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis", "2015-12-22", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In August, Brown Urged the Administration to Develop a Robust Plan to Address the Threat of Drug-Resistant TB in the U.S. and Abroad \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, December 22, 2015\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Following the release of the Obama Administrations National Action Plan to Address Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (TB), U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) issued the following statement.\r\nTB is not just a disease of the past that remains confined to developing countries. Each year, there are approximately 9,000 cases of TB in the U.S., said Brown. Its critical that we invest in prevention and surveillance of TB here and abroad to prevent this disease  and particularly its more virulent, drug-resistant forms  from growing into an epidemic. The National Action Plan released today marks an essential first step in our countrys dedication to better treatments, and eventually, a cure. This targeted set of interventions will help improve our capacity to combat drug-resistant TB both at home in the U.S. and alongside our global partners. I commend the Administration for its leadership on this issue, and it is my hope that the President also requests sufficient funding in its FY2017 budget to fully implement this plan and address this threat head on.\r\nA copy of the National Action Plan can be found here.\r\nIn August, Brown led his colleagues in a letter to the Administration urging them to develop a comprehensive plan with bold targets for scaling up services for addressing drug-resistant TB in the U.S. and abroad; an aggressive research agenda; and a strong means of independently assessing progress.\r\nAugust 11, 2015\r\n\r\nPresident Barack Obama1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NWWashington, DC 20500\r\n\r\nDear Mr. President,\r\n\r\nWe are writing in support of the Administrations recently announced initiative to develop a National Action Plan to Address Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (National Action Plan). This is a matter of great urgency both for the U.S. and the world. The National Action Plan is an essential component of the U.S. response to antibiotic resistant bacteria. As you work to develop and implement this National Action Plan, we request that you take swift, aggressive actions to address the threat of TB both at home and abroad. \r\nAlthough we have seen a 45 percent global reduction in tuberculosis (TB) deaths since 1990, problems remain. TB is not a 19th-century threat or confined to developing countries. Daily, more than 4,000 global citizens continue to lose their lives to this disease. It is a large and escalating threat that requires constant surveillance and innovation. In an increasingly globalized world, drug-resistant TB poses a grave public health threat that is never more than a plane ride away. \r\nDespite the fact that the majority of TB deaths occur across Africa and Southeast Asia, the United States is not immune to the rampages of this disease. In 2014 alone, there were more than 9,400 cases of TB in the U.S, and at least 18 states reported cases of TB in public schools. As more strains of TB become drug-resistant and as our world continues to globalize, we must prioritize a national strategy that will help eliminate the presence of TB both in the U.S. and across the world. \r\nThe development and implementation of a strong National Action Plan is an important first step in combatting this deadly disease. By pooling resources and expertise from multiple government agencies, the National Action Plan  as currently drafted  provides measurable objectives and sound interventions to end TB deaths domestically and globally. \r\nAs you work to finalize the National Action Plan, we encourage you to work closely with stakeholders to craft a final product that is both bold and comprehensive, as well as to use all diplomatic means available to foster strong leadership to combat TB internationally. \r\nThe National Action Plan should have bold targets for scaling up services for addressing drug-resistant TB in the U.S. and abroad. It should have an aggressive research agenda, and it must include a strong means of independently assessing progress. Including tangible, specific actions for domestic and international preparedness, innovation, and response is critical. In addition, given the public health emergency of drug resistant TB, the National Action Plan should articulate any additional resources that are required to implement each element, beginning in fiscal year 2017.\r\nWhile combating drug-resistant TB is an ambitious undertaking, addressing this global problem should remain a priority of this and future administrations. It is part of our nations humanitarian imperative to protect our most vulnerable populations, both at home and abroad, from the devastating health, economic, societal implications of TB. We applaud the administration for taking the first steps toward a National Action Plan, and look forward to working with you on this priority moving forward. \r\nThank you again for your interest in combating TB. We look forward to hearing more about next steps. \r\nSincerely,\r\n\r\nSherrod Brown, U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski, U.S. SenatorMazie K. Hirono, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey, U.S. SenatorBrian Schatz, U.S. Senator Christopher A. Coons, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, U.S. Senator\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tLauren Kulik/Rachel Petri(202) 224-3978", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-applauds-release-of-national-action-plan-to-address-drug-resistant-tuberculosis"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4231330715119839, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}