East Michigan News

Congressman John Moolenaar, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, and Congressman Lou Correa have introduced H.R. 6705, the Effective Screening and Testing for Tuberculosis Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to prevent tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks by implementing requirements for testing and screening of TB in donor materials used in medical procedures.

The need for this legislation arose after the unfortunate passing of Shandra Eisenga from Marion, who contracted TB during a surgery that required a bone graft. Tragically, 36 patients in seven states also contracted TB after receiving tissue donations from the same donor, with two of them passing away due to complications.

Congressman Moolenaar expressed his determination to prevent such incidents in the future, stating, "No family should have to endure the pain Shandra and her family have experienced. It is long overdue that the Department of Health and Human Services have requirements in place to stop TB outbreaks like the one earlier this year. My bipartisan bill is common sense and will require testing for tuberculosis to help ensure TB outbreaks from tissue donors never happen again."

Congresswoman Dingell emphasized the importance of protecting patients from preventable tragedies, saying, "In the last two years, we've witnessed multiple cases of bone graft recipients suffering and losing their lives due to tuberculosis infection. This is a preventable tragedy, and we must do more to protect patients. This legislation will take meaningful steps to strengthen regulations and enhance TB testing and screening to prevent infection from HCT/P."

Congressman Correa echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need to prevent families from enduring unnecessary pain. He stated, "No family should have to endure the pain that Shandra's are, not when the pain could have been prevented. That's why my colleagues and I are introducing this bipartisan legislation today—to require testing for tuberculosis from tissue donors, and ensure that outbreaks like this never happen again. The Department of Health and Human Services has a duty to step up in the wake of this crisis, and we won't relent in our call for them to do so."

Prior to introducing this legislation, Congressman Moolenaar and Congresswoman Dingell wrote to the Food and Drug Administration Commissioner, urging him to issue guidance on tissue donor eligibility following the TB outbreak earlier this year. Their efforts have now culminated in the introduction of H.R. 6705, which seeks to address the gaps in the current system and prevent future TB outbreaks.

The full text of Congressman Moolenaar's legislation can be found here. As this bipartisan bill gains support, it is hoped that it will lead to improved regulations and increased testing and screening measures for tuberculosis in donor materials. Through these efforts, the aim is to protect patients from preventable infections and ensure the safety of medical procedures involving tissue donation.

To find out more, go to this link: https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-dingell-correa-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-stop