What This Bill Does
This bill authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish programs and activities to prevent, diagnose, and treat neglected diseases of poverty in the United States. These are chronic diseases caused by parasites and bacteria that mainly affect people living in extreme poverty. The bill creates a federal task force to coordinate efforts across multiple government agencies and directs specific research, surveillance, and education activities.
Who It Affects
- People living in poverty with neglected diseases
- Health care providers and public health professionals
- States and local communities
- Federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, and other departments
- Federally qualified health centers (community health centers serving low-income patients)
Key Provisions
- The Secretary must establish an Interagency Task Force on Neglected Diseases of Poverty within 180 days to provide advice and recommendations to prevent, diagnose, and treat these diseases (Sec. 399OO(a))
- The task force must submit a report within 180 days identifying gaps in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment efforts and including findings on disease prevalence, geographic distribution, and health care provider awareness (Sec. 399OO(c))
- The Secretary must award grants to States for surveillance systems to determine how common these diseases are and where they occur (Sec. 399OO-1)
- The Secretary must award grants to community health centers to implement guidelines for preventing and treating these diseases (Sec. 399OO-2)
- The Secretary must develop educational programs for health professionals and the public about disease risk factors, symptoms, and prevention strategies (Sec. 399OO-3)
- The Secretary may fund research and development of affordable vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic tests (Sec. 399OO-4)
- The Secretary may establish centers of excellence at research institutions to study these diseases for up to 5 years, with possible 5-year extensions (Sec. 399OO-5)
What Changes
If this bill becomes law, the federal government would formally coordinate efforts across multiple agencies to address neglected diseases of poverty in the United States. States would receive grants to track these diseases. Community health centers would receive funding to screen and treat patients. Researchers would receive funding to develop new treatments and diagnostic tests. Health care providers and the public would receive educational materials about these diseases.
Important Definitions
Neglected diseases of poverty are defined as chronic and disabling diseases caused by parasites, bacteria, and other pathogens that primarily impact people living in extreme poverty. These specifically include: Chagas disease, cysticercosis, toxocariasis, toxoplasmosis, trichomoniasis, hookworm infection, dengue fever and related arbovirus infections, and other neglected tropical diseases recognized by the World Health Organization such as leishmaniasis, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, and schistosomiasis (Sec. 399OO(e)).
Effective Date
The 180-day timeframe for establishing the task force and submitting the initial report begins from the date the bill is enacted. Not specified in bill text for other provisions.
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 324
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out
activities relating to neglected diseases of poverty.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
FEBRUARY 9, 2023
Mr. BOOKER introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services
to carry out activities relating to neglected diseases of
poverty.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Study, Treat, Observe,
4
and Prevent Neglected Diseases of Poverty Act’’ or the
5
‘‘STOP Neglected Diseases of Poverty Act’’.
6
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
7
Congress finds as follows:
8
(1) Neglected diseases of poverty, many of
9
which are also known as ‘‘neglected tropical dis-
10
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eases’’, are a group of diseases that disproportion-
1
ately affect vulnerable populations living in extreme
2
poverty.
3
(2) More than 1,000,000,000 people worldwide
4
are affected by neglected diseases of poverty.
5
(3) Neglected diseases of poverty can be trans-
6
mitted—
7
(A) through contaminated food, water, and
8
soil;
9
(B) through parasites, insects, blood trans-
10
fusion, and organ transplant; and
11
(C) in some cases, congenitally.
12
(4) Neglected diseases of poverty have a high
13
rate of morbidity and mortality and can lead to
14
health complications such as heart disease, epilepsy,
15
asthma, blindness, developmental delays, stillbirth,
16
low birthweight, and gastrointestinal disorders.
17
(5) Some neglected diseases of poverty can be
18
asymptomatic at the outset, but debilitating, dan-
19
gerous, and deadly symptoms can emerge over time
20
or under certain conditions, such as pregnancy. It is
21
estimated that millions of people are living with
22
these diseases and are not aware that they are in-
23
fected.
24
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(6) For tens of thousands of individuals, dis-
1
eases of poverty that are chronic and neglected can
2
manifest into severe illness later in life.
3
(7) Neglected diseases of poverty place a sig-
4
nificant financial burden on affected individuals and
5
communities due to the health care costs associated
6
with these diseases and because these diseases limit
7
individuals’ productivity and ability to be active con-
8
tributors to their communities. This burden could
9
largely be prevented through early screening and
10
treatment, which are highly cost effective.
11
(8) Since its inception in 2006, the Neglected
12
Tropical Diseases Program at the United States
13
Agency for International Development and its part-
14
ners, including the Centers for Disease Control and
15
Prevention, have delivered more than 2,800,000,000
16
treatments to more than 1,400,000,000 people.
17
(9) Due to the support provided by the United
18
States Agency for International Development and its
19
partners, 315,000,000 people live in regions where
20
they are no longer at risk of contracting lymphatic
21
filariasis, and 67,000,000 people live in regions
22
where they are no longer at risk of contracting tra-
23
choma.
24
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(10) Although the exact prevalence and burden
1
of these diseases in the United States is unknown
2
because of stigma and limited reporting, surveil-
3
lance, and awareness, one study estimates that there
4
are 12,000,000 individuals living with at least one
5
neglected disease of poverty throughout the country.
6
These diseases disproportionately affect racial and
7
ethnic minorities living in poverty and in regions
8
where water quality and sanitation are substandard.
9
(11) The major neglected diseases of poverty in
10
the United States that predominantly occur among
11
those living in poverty are the following: toxocariasis,
12
cysticercosis, Chagas disease, toxoplasmosis, tricho-
13
moniasis, hookworm infection, and Dengue Fever
14
and related arbovirus infections.
15
(12) There is a lack of diagnostic and treat-
16
ment programs, including for early diagnosis and
17
treatment, for neglected diseases of poverty. These
18
programs would be highly cost effective and would
19
significantly reduce the burden of morbidity and
20
mortality of these diseases.
21
(13) Funding for research, preventive strate-
22
gies, vaccines and the development of treatments, di-
23
agnostic tests, and other therapeutics for neglected
24
diseases of poverty in the United States is limited.
25
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SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
1
It is the sense of Congress that there is a need to
2
study the prevalence and incidence of neglected diseases
3
of poverty in the United States, identify preventive meth-
4
ods to combat neglected diseases of poverty, conduct re-
5
search that will lead to more treatments and diagnostic
6
tests for neglected diseases of poverty, and supply health
7
care providers, public health professionals, and affected in-
8
dividuals and communities with educational resources on
9
neglected diseases of poverty.
10
SEC. 4. DEFINITION OF NEGLECTED DISEASES OF POV-
11
ERTY.
12
In this Act, the term ‘‘neglected diseases of poverty’’
13
has the meaning given such term in section 399OO(e) of
14
the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 5.
15
SEC. 5. PROGRAMS RELATING TO NEGLECTED DISEASES
16
OF POVERTY.
17
Title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
18
241 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
19
lowing:
20
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‘‘PART W—PROGRAMS RELATING TO NEGLECTED
1
DISEASES OF POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES
2
‘‘SEC. 399OO. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON NEGLECTED
3
DISEASES
OF
POVERTY
IN
THE
UNITED
4
STATES.
5
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days
6
after the date of enactment of the Study, Treat, Observe,
7
and Prevent Neglected Diseases of Poverty Act, the Sec-
8
retary shall establish an Interagency Task Force on Ne-
9
glected Diseases of Poverty in the United States to provide
10
advice and recommendations to the Secretary and Con-
11
gress to prevent, diagnose, and treat neglected diseases
12
of poverty in the United States.
13
‘‘(b) MEMBERS.—The task force shall be comprised
14
of representatives of—
15
‘‘(1) the Department of Health and Human
16
Services, including the Assistant Secretary for
17
Health and representatives from the Centers for
18
Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug
19
Administration, the Health Resources and Services
20
Administration, the National Institutes of Health,
21
and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Devel-
22
opment Authority;
23
‘‘(2) the Department of State;
24
‘‘(3) the United States Agency for International
25
Development;
26
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‘‘(4) the Department of Agriculture;
1
‘‘(5) the Department of Housing and Urban
2
Development;
3
‘‘(6) the Environmental Protection Agency; and
4
‘‘(7) any other Federal agency that has juris-
5
diction over, or is affected by, neglected diseases of
6
poverty policies and projects, as determined by the
7
Secretary.
8
‘‘(c) INITIAL REPORT.—
9
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days
10
after the date of enactment of the Study, Treat, Ob-
11
serve, and Prevent Neglected Diseases of Poverty
12
Act, the task force shall submit a report to the Sec-
13
retary based on a review of relevant literature to
14
identify gaps in efforts, and guide future efforts, to
15
prevent, diagnose, and treat neglected diseases of
16
poverty
in
the
United
States,
particularly
17
toxocariasis, cysticercosis, Chagas disease, toxoplas-
18
mosis, trichomoniasis, hookworm infection, and Den-
19
gue Fever and related arbovirus infections. The re-
20
port shall include a summary of findings with re-
21
spect to—
22
‘‘(A) estimated prevalence of neglected dis-
23
eases of poverty in the United States;
24
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‘‘(B) geographic distribution and major
1
distribution routes of neglected diseases of pov-
2
erty in the United States;
3
‘‘(C) disparities with respect to the burden
4
of neglected diseases of poverty in the United
5
States;
6
‘‘(D) risk factors for neglected diseases of
7
poverty in the United States;
8
‘‘(E) existing tools for surveillance, preven-
9
tion, diagnosis, and treatment of neglected dis-
10
eases of poverty in the United States;
11
‘‘(F) current patient pathways and bar-
12
riers to access information and tools for surveil-
13
lance, prevention, testing, diagnosis, and treat-
14
ment of neglected diseases of poverty in the
15
United States;
16
‘‘(G) comorbidities associated with ne-
17
glected diseases of poverty in the United States;
18
‘‘(H) awareness among health care pro-
19
viders and public health professionals regarding
20
neglected diseases of poverty in the United
21
States;
22
‘‘(I) public awareness of neglected diseases
23
of poverty in the United States, particularly
24
among high-risk groups;
25
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‘‘(J) the economic burden of neglected dis-
1
eases of poverty in the United States; and
2
‘‘(K) strategies and lessons learned from
3
the United States Agency for International De-
4
velopment Neglected Tropical Diseases Pro-
5
gram, particularly those that are most applica-
6
ble to efforts to prevent, diagnose, and treat ne-
7
glected diseases of poverty in the United States.
8
‘‘(2) CONSULTATION.—In developing the initial
9
report under paragraph (1), the task force shall con-
10
sult with appropriate external parties, including
11
States, local communities, scientists, researchers,
12
health care providers, individuals diagnosed with a
13
neglected disease of poverty, public health profes-
14
sionals,
and
national
and
international
15
nongovermental organizations.
16
‘‘(d) DUTIES.—The task force shall—
17
‘‘(1) review and evaluate the current actions
18
and future plans of each applicable agency rep-
19
resented on the task force as described in subsection
20
(b) to prevent, diagnose, and treat neglected diseases
21
of poverty in the United States;
22
‘‘(2) identify current and potential areas of
23
partnership and coordination between Federal agen-
24
cies and develop a unified implementation plan to
25
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prevent, diagnose, and treat neglected diseases of
1
poverty in the United States;
2
‘‘(3) make efforts to apply applicable strategies
3
and lessons learned from the United States Agency
4
for International Development Neglected Tropical
5
Diseases Program when developing the implementa-
6
tion plan under paragraph (2);
7
‘‘(4) establish specific goals within and across
8
Federal agencies to prevent, diagnose, and treat ne-
9
glected diseases of poverty in the United States, in-
10
cluding metrics to assess progress towards reaching
11
those goals;
12
‘‘(5) coordinate plans to communicate research
13
and relevant accomplishments across Federal agen-
14
cies and with States and local communities relating
15
to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ne-
16
glected diseases of poverty;
17
‘‘(6) develop consensus guidelines for health
18
care providers and public health professionals for the
19
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of toxocariasis,
20
cysticercosis, Chagas disease, toxoplasmosis, tricho-
21
moniasis, hookworm infection, Dengue Fever and re-
22
lated arbovirus infections, and other neglected dis-
23
eases of poverty;
24
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‘‘(7) biannually make recommendations to Con-
1
gress on strategies for the development of affordable
2
tools to prevent, diagnose, and treat neglected dis-
3
eases of poverty, including drugs, diagnostics, and
4
vaccines; and
5
‘‘(8) in developing the guidelines and rec-
6
ommendations under paragraphs (6) and (7), con-
7
sult with external parties, including States, local
8
communities, scientists, researchers, health care pro-
9
viders and public health professionals, national and
10
international nongovernmental organizations, and
11
centers of excellence with expertise in neglected dis-
12
eases of poverty, including the centers of excellence
13
described in section 399OO–5.
14
‘‘(e) DEFINITION OF NEGLECTED DISEASES OF POV-
15
ERTY.—In this part, the term ‘neglected diseases of pov-
16
erty’—
17
‘‘(1) means chronic and disabling diseases that
18
are caused by parasites, bacteria, and other patho-
19
gens and that primarily impact people living in ex-
20
treme poverty; and
21
‘‘(2) includes the following:
22
‘‘(A) Chagas disease.
23
‘‘(B) Cysticercosis.
24
‘‘(C) Toxocariasis.
25
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‘‘(D) Toxoplasmosis.
1
‘‘(E) Trichomoniasis.
2
‘‘(F) Hookworm infection.
3
‘‘(G) Dengue Fever and related arbovirus
4
infections.
5
‘‘(H) Other neglected tropical diseases, in-
6
cluding those defined by the World Health Or-
7
ganization, such as the following:
8
‘‘(i) Buruli ulcer.
9
‘‘(ii) Chikungunya.
10
‘‘(iii) Dracunculiasis.
11
‘‘(iv) Echinococcosis.
12
‘‘(v) Foodborne trematodiases.
13
‘‘(vi) Human African trypanosomiasis.
14
‘‘(vii) Leishmaniases.
15
‘‘(viii) Leprosy.
16
‘‘(ix) Lymphatic filariasis.
17
‘‘(x) Mycetoma.
18
‘‘(xi) Onchocerciasis.
19
‘‘(xii) Rabies.
20
‘‘(xiii) Schistosomiasis.
21
‘‘(xiv) Soil-transmitted helminthiases.
22
‘‘(xv)
Taeniasis
and
23
neurocysticercosis.
24
‘‘(xvi) Trachoma.
25
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[Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]