Congress progresses key poverty-fighting bills, End TB Now Act and the READ Act Reauthorization
Advocates call on members of Congress to advance these bills to the floor for a vote
Washington DC, December 7, 2022 – Just this week, Congress took proactive steps on not just one but two key issues in the fight against poverty: the deadly tuberculosis epidemic that takes more lives than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined and the lack of equitable access to high quality basic education. Thanks to tireless and passionate efforts of RESULTS advocates and the leadership of bipartisan lawmakers in the House and Senate, both the End TB Now Act and the READ Act Reauthorization have passed out of the key committees and are eligible to come to a vote in the full House and Senate.
“We are so grateful for the committed leadership of Senators Menendez and Young and Representatives Bera and Salazar on the End TB Now Act, as well as Senators Durbin and Rubio and Representatives Bass and Smith on the READ Act Reauthorization,” said Dr. Joanne Carter, Executive Director of RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund. “It’s now up to Congress to act swiftly to bring both bills to a vote by end of year so that these critical pieces of legislation become law,” Carter said.
The End TB Now Act has the potential to start reversing an alarming backslide in the fight against tuberculosis that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. TB cases and deaths are on the rise rather than decline for the first time in years. Passing the End TB Now Act will hold USAID accountable for doing its part to scale up quality diagnosis, treatment, and prevention for this leading infectious disease killer. It also expands social and medical support systems for those marginalized by poverty, who face the biggest risks from TB.
At the same time, reauthorizing the READ Act will reinvigorate U.S. efforts to ensure equitable access to quality education for children all over the world and prioritize foundational literacy and numeracy in USAID’s basic education programs. This legislation also targets educational services for children affected by conflict and grows collaboration with international partners like the Global Partnership for Education. The bill also enhances transparency and accountability to maximize the impact of U.S. funding.
“Thanks to bipartisan support, we are poised to make decisive progress on these two issues that exacerbate and perpetuate poverty. I urge Congressional leaders to work quickly to pass both the End TB Now Act and READ Reauthorization Act in 2022,” said Carter.
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About RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund:
RESULTS supports a movement of passionate, committed everyday people using their voices to influence political decisions that will bring an end to poverty. Volunteers and staff multiply their impact through the enormous power of advocacy.
Our movement of volunteers is backed by a staff of researchers, policy analysts, and legislative and media experts. Our shared goal is the end of poverty. We have affiliates and partners across five continents, and a network of volunteers in all 50 states and worldwide. We’re a non-partisan advocacy group comprised of RESULTS Educational Fund, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, and RESULTS, a nonprofit 501(c)4 grassroots lobbying organization.