APHA advocates for global TB funding.

With 9 million people diagnosed with tuberculosis every year, APHA expressed its gratitude to U.S. policy-makers for supporting increased funding to fight the disease.

Along with a dozen fellow public health advocates, the Association thanked Reps. Don Payne, D-N.J., and Don Young, R-Alaska, for their "recognition of the urgent need to strengthen efforts to treat this disease and to discover new drugs, diagnostics and vaccines to lead to its eventual elimination" as well for circulating a "Dear Colleague" letter to fellow members of Congress in support of global TB funding. Initiated by the American Thoracic Society, the July letter noted that TB is the leading cause of death among people living with HIV/AIDS and continues to wreak havoc on already resource-poor, impoverished communities. The letter also pointed to emerging strains of drug-resistant tuberculosis, which have been diagnosed in the United States as well.

"Expanded U.S. support is vital to halting this devastation, as well as protecting existing U.S. investment in global HIV/AIDS programs, whose success is threatened when people whose lives have been prolonged by U.S.-funded antiretroviral medications are cut short by undiagnosed, untreated tuberculosis," the letter stated.

To send a letter to members of Congress on global health funding, visit APHA's advocacy page at http://action.apha.org/site/ PageNavigator/Advocacy.

For more on APHA advocacy activities or to take action, visit www.apha. org/advocacy/activities.