House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23), also serving as co-chair of the Congressional Valley Fever Task Force, along with Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37), Arizona Sen. Martha McSally, Arizona Rep. David Schweikert, Arizona Rep. Greg Stanton, and Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, have introduced H.R. 2858 and S. 1567, the Finding Orphan-disease Remedies with Antifungal Research and Development (Forward Act).
“Valley Fever is a serious health problem that has affected our community for years,” McCarthy said. “Since coming to Congress, I have worked with my colleagues to bring more national awareness to this infectious disease by hosting seminars and roundtables with local community leaders, doctors, and members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health. “The Forward Act takes a comprehensive approach to combating Valley Fever, focusing on short-term, medium-term, and long-term strategies to increase public awareness of this disease while enhancing and promoting the development of novel treatments and a vaccine. I am grateful to my colleagues for joining me in this effort and for their dedication to stamping out Valley Fever.”
“I’m proud to join my colleagues on this bipartisan effort to combat Valley Fever,” Bass said. “The impact this disease has had on communities in Southern California and the greater Southwest region of the country will be significantly mitigated by advancing treatment and vaccine development. As a former health professional, I’ve seen lives saved by scientific research, which is why I hope Congress can come together to pass this good piece of legislation.”
Combating Valley Fever is a pressing issue in Arizona. Rep. Stanton said: “No family wants to learn a loved one has been infected with Valley Fever and that there is no known cure—but it’s a reality that nearly 7,000 Arizonans faced in 2017. That number is on the rise, but we can do something about it. This is a common-sense, bipartisan bill that will make it a priority to find a cure and develop a vaccine.”
Additionally, leading Valley Fever researchers, health professionals, and patient advocates are in support of the Forward Act which is designed to advance sustained efforts to combat Valley Fever.
