Legislative Initiatives

In a time of competing disease priorities and budget cuts, the Hepatitis B Foundation is deeply committed to focusing our efforts on informing and educating key policy leaders about the problem of hepatitis B.

Gaining the support and help from key policy makers is important if we hope to increase funding for the prevention, screening, and treatment of hepatitis B. We also want to advocate for more public health attention and research dollars towards finding a cure for hepatitis B.

Through successful partnerships with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR), and other public health agencies and nonprofit organizations, we are able to more effectively leverage our efforts and maximize our resources.

Congressional Briefing on Hepatitis B: Zero Tolerance for Hepatitis B: the Health Needs of Women and Children
May 2008 – Congressmen Mike Honda (CA-D) and Charles Dent (PA-R) will host a Congressional Briefing on May 20, 2008 in commemoration of National Hepatitis B Week (May 19-23). Special Speaker California Assemblywoman and Assembly Majority Whip Fiona Ma will provide personal testimony. Expert speakers will include Dr. Timothy Block, President of the Hepatitis B Foundation. Learn more.

HBF Testifies Before Congress for More HBV Funding
March 2008- HBF President Dr. Timothy Block was invited by U.S Representative David Obey, Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, to present testimony today advocating for more HBV funding in the fiscal year budget 2009. Dr. Block cited the recent Nevada outbreak as a dramatic example of how the nation is facing a major public health challenge that cannot be ignored. “If we don’t act with urgency, more and more people will suffer from chronic hepatitis,” he said. Read Dr. Block’s complete HHS Testimony.

U.S. Representative Mike Honda Introduces Bi-Partisan Bill to Boost Hepatitis B Research and Prevention
November 2007 - Aiming to reduce the number of Hepatitis-B victims, Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) and Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) recently introduced a bill that could boost immunization rates against the disease and increase funding for Hepatitis-B research. Read Bill H.R. 3944

National Hepatitis B Act Introduced in US Senate (June 30, 2006)
U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) introduced the National Hepatitis B Act (Senate Bill, S.3558) that calls for a comprehensive program for support to screen and immunize more Americans, and to increase federal research to improve prevention and treatment options. U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) is cosponsor of the bill.

Call To Action- National Hepatitis B Bill in Congress (December 15, 2005)
In an historic bi-partisan effort, the first national hepatitis B legislation HR 4550 National Hepatitis B Act was introduced in Congress by U.S. Representative Charles Dent (R-PA) and U.S. Representatives Mike Honda (D-CA) on December 15, 2005. It calls for support to screen and immunize more Americans, and to increase federal research to improve prevention and treatment options.