*Update: On February 8, the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government at current levels until March 11. The Senate passed the bill on February 17 and President Biden signed it, averting a government shutdown. House and Senate appropriators have negotiated a framework to fund the government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2022 and are currently working to craft formal legislation.

Federal Funding Update

CSTE reported in June 2021 that President Biden released his Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget, calling for historic increases in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including resources to carry out public health efforts at the state and local levels. While the president’s budget was groundbreaking, it is not binding. Congress sets federal spending, and though FY 2022 began on October 1, 2021, the FY 2022 congressional appropriations process is still underway. Republicans and Democrats are working to bridge their differences and come to an agreement before temporary funding expires February 18, 2022.

Along with our partners in the Data: Elemental to Health campaign, CSTE has led advocacy efforts to secure robust, long-term, sustainable funding for CDC’s public health Data Modernization Initiative (DMI) to upgrade our nation’s antiquated public health data infrastructure. We were pleased to share last spring that, thanks to our efforts, President Biden’s budget proposed a $100 million increase—or tripling—in funding for DMI at $150 million. And last July, the House Appropriations Committee recommended the same level of funding, which was included in a larger package of appropriations legislation that passed the full House of Representatives.

Across the Capitol, the Senate has taken no formal action on appropriations legislation to fund public health. However, the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee introduced draft legislation last fall that would also fund DMI at $150 million. While these numbers match, they are not yet set in stone as overall funding levels still face pressures that could ultimately drive CDC and other health agency funding down. However, the consistent bipartisan commitment across Congress and the Administration to provide increased funding for DMI demonstrates that policymakers understand and agree with the dire need to invest in the modernization of our deficient public health data systems. The COVID-19 pandemic illustrated just how severe the need is and CSTE and our partners continue to advocate for robust, sustained funding that keeps pace with technology and will facilitate the immediate response to any emerging public health threat.

The fiscal year ended on September 30, 2021 with no funding agreement in place. Since then, Congress has passed two consecutive continuing resolutions (CR) extending federal funding at current levels while negotiations continue. At the same time, Congress will soon begin preparing for the FY 2023 appropriations process. We will be meeting with key congressional offices to request further increased funding for DMI in FY 2023 and will share more detail in the coming weeks.

Federal funding is critical for public health. CRs of any duration damage our public health infrastructure and impede our ability to respond. CSTE has prepared talking points that can be used as you speak to colleagues and policymakers about the need for increased investment in public health.

A Call for Long-Term Investment in Public Health Data Modernization

Incremental investments through the annual appropriations process and supplemental COVID-19 relief funding have been critical and have begun to improve public health data systems, particularly at the federal level. However, we cannot realize the potential of data modernization without also providing significant resources dedicated to modernizing foundational state and local public health data systems.

Data: Elemental to Health has estimated that a modern and secure public health information system will require a federal investment of at least $7.84 billion over five years. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the egregious gaps in our system, and it also taught us that modernization cannot wait. The next public health crisis will always be looming. If we do not take the necessary steps to equip our public health system for the next emergency, we will face the same devastating inadequacies we have experienced in responding to COVID-19.

Meghan Riley is vice president at Cavarocchi Ruscio Dennis Associates, LLC, which represents CSTE’s interests on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC