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On December 13, Congressmen David G. Valadao (CA-22), David Schweikert (AZ-01) and Kevin McCarthy (CA-20) introduced the Finding Orphan-disease Remedies with Antifungal Research and Development (FORWARD) Act.

This legislation would support various research programs with the goal of developing new drugs, treatments and vaccines to combat valley fever.

“Valley fever has a huge impact on our neighbors and communities in the Central Valley, and we must prioritize the development of new treatments and vaccines to combat the spread of this disease and save lives,” said Valadao. “The FORWARD Act is an important step towards finding a cure for valley fever, and I’m proud to support it.”

“I’m pleased to reintroduce the FORWARD Act this Congress as our Valley Fever Task Force makes significant progress in improving care, treatment, and research into this terrible disease that has devastated so many lives in our communities,” said Congressman Schweikert.

Background

Valadao is a member of the Valley Fever Task Force along with Schweikert and McCarthy. The bipartisan Task Force, which was founded in 2013, is committed to raising awareness and advancing policies to combat valley fever.

The FORWARD Act would:

• Establish a working group at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to advise on strategies that confront gaps in science that can help detect, treat and eradicate valley fever;

• Encourage the development of valley fever vaccines, cures and treatments by directing the FDA to include Valley fever in its priority review voucher program; and

• Provide additional resources to support research efforts and add antifungal development to the existing CARB-X program.