Booker Reintroduces Bill to Confront Neglected Diseases of Poverty in America

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced the STOP (Study, Treat, Observe, and Prevent) Neglected Diseases of Poverty Act, legislation that would give public health officials the tools to track, treat, and ultimately eliminate neglected diseases of poverty in the United States. These chronic, often disabling infections spread where families lack basic sewage systems, safe drinking water, and adequate housing.

"In many parts of our country, there are disabling conditions commonly associated with developing nations that continue to impact Americans here at home," said Senator Booker. "This injustice is largely hidden. We need to address this challenge by raising awareness and boosting investment in research and monitoring to combat these neglected diseases."

An estimated 12 million Americans live with at least one neglected parasitic infection, which are more common in places where there is a lack of sewage infrastructure, unsafe drinking water, and inadequate housing and sanitation. Chagas disease alone, which can cause severe heart and digestive problems, affects 300,000 or more people in the U.S., most of whom don't know they are infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to research by CDC scientists, more than 5,000 of them live in New Jersey. Yet, due to reporting gaps, the true burden of this disease remains unknown.

The bill would create an interagency task force, fund state surveillance systems and diagnosis and treatment at community health centers, support research into affordable vaccines and treatments, and train health care providers to recognize these diseases.

The full text of the legislation is available here.