H.R. 3460 would encourage the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) to monitor and evaluate programs to control or eliminate tropical diseases—including leprosy, lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), and scabies—that disproportionately affect people living in extreme poverty. The bill also would require USAID to coordinate those programs with its other health and development programs and continue its research on tropical diseases. In addition, the bill would encourage the Department of State to better integrate its programs to control or eliminate those tropical diseases with its programs to address HIV/AIDS.
According to USAID, the bill would codify the Administration’s existing efforts. As a result, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 3460 would not affect the budgets of USAID or the Department of State.
