A bipartisan bill introduced by US Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) and co-sponsored by Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) and more than 30 others seeks to boost federal funding for hepatitis research and awareness efforts from roughly $21 million to $90 million.

The National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) estimates 5 million Americans are infected with hepatitis B or C. Blacks and Asian Americans are most affected, and the disease is particularly prevalent in the South. The virus is most commonly spread today via intravenous drug use, though it can also be transmitted from mother to child and contact with infected blood. Hepatitis is known as a "silent killer" since many who are infected are unaware they have the virus.

While hepatitis prevalence is growing, federal funding for CDC's hepatitis programs has declined over the past decade, said Lorren Sandt of NVHR. "It [CDC's hepatitis division] is so grossly under-funded that people are dying needlessly every year," Sandt said.

In December, Johnson announced his battle with hepatitis C. "Who knows how I contracted it?" the Georgia congressman said Tuesday at a news conference. "You can put your hand up and swear on the Bible that you've never used intravenous drugs or got a blood transfusion and people will still think, 'OK, he's not being truthful.' The fact is, it could've happened anywhere."

Johnson was declared virus-free in January 2009 after months of aggressive treatment. However, he is still recovering from the disease and the side effects of treatment.

The bill faces an uphill battle, given Congress' focus on other issues and federal and state funding shortfalls. The measure is currently stalled in committee. Sandt said passing it should be a priority, noting the cost of hepatitis treatment could more than triple to $85 billion by 2024.