Opening Statements

Chairman Smith on the hearing: “Our next great global public health crisis may very well be multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.  Just as Ebola surprised many at the ferocity with which it spread, I am concerned that the world is not prepared to meet the threat from this highly contagious airborne disease which killed 1.5 million people last year alone.  We are very fortunate to have three of the world’s leading experts on combating TB – UN Special Envoy Dr. Eric Goosby, CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden and USAID’s top medical expert, Dr. Ariel Pablos-Mendez – address us on the need for proactive vigilance and steps we are taking to strengthen health systems in countries that are particularly vulnerable.  A sustained focus on tuberculosis prevention today will save lives and money tomorrow, helping people the world over as well protecting the homeland from what otherwise could become a global pandemic.”

Witnesses

Tom Frieden, M.D.
Director
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[full text of statement]

The Honorable Ariel Pablos-Mendez, M.D.
Assistant Administrator
Bureau for Global Health
U.S. Agency for International Development
[full text of statement]

BRIEFER:

The Honorable Eric P. Goosby, M.D.
Special Envoy on Tuberculosis
United Nations
[full text of statement]
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Briefing and hearing transcript (PDF)