FORWARD Act of 2023

The FORWARD Act of 2023 authorizes $20 million annually (2024-2028) for research on endemic fungal diseases in the U.S., including Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis), and establishes a federal working group to coordinate efforts across health agencies. The bill creates a new "Endemic Fungal Disease Working Group" with federal and non-federal members to identify research gaps, recommend strategies for treatments/vaccines, and provide annual reports to Congress. It also expands a priority review voucher program to incentivize coccidioidomycosis treatments and allocates $500 million for a new antimicrobial resistance program, requiring at least 20% of funds to support antifungal product development. These provisions directly affect federal agencies (like NIH, CDC, and FDA), research institutions, and patients with fungal diseases such as Valley Fever.