Leaders on Capitol Hill are in the throes of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Appropriations process, determining where to invest scarce federal resources as Democrats and Republicans in Congress simultaneously debate how to approach lifting the federal debt ceiling, which could be reached as soon as June 1. The divided Congress must not only agree on how to fund the federal government before the end of the fiscal year on September 30, but must also raise the debt ceiling to ensure the United States does not default on its credit obligations, which would be unprecedented and have far-reaching economic consequences.

A first step in the federal appropriations process is the release of the President’s budget request. While the President’s budget has no force in law, it is an important display of spending and policy priorities, indicating to Congress and the public where the administration believes federal resources should be allocated. On March 9, while members of the CSTE Executive Board were holding their annual virtual Capitol Hill advocacy day, President Biden released his FY 2024 budget request—setting the stage for the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to move forward.

The President’s budget proposed $340 million for the Data Modernization Initiative (DMI) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a substantial $125 million dollar increase over the amount appropriated in FY 2023. This represents an important prioritization of the continued efforts of the DMI at CDC. CSTE supports this proposal and has advocated strongly for this increased investment in FY 2024 to help CDC implement advanced technologies to address ongoing threats to public health and prepare our nation for the next pandemic. As technology evolves, our public health data systems will require continual updates and staff will need to be regularly trained. As such, CSTE and our partners in the Data: Elemental to Health campaign call on Congress to support the President’s budget request and provide sustained, annual appropriations to DMI.

House Republicans, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), have criticized the President’s budget for its increases to non-defense discretionary spending, which includes funding for critical CDC programs like DMI. This is part of a larger House Republican effort to cut non-defense discretionary spending across the board, which they pledged to do when they gained the majority. On April 26, the House passed legislation that would raise the federal debt ceiling while making deep cuts to federally funded programs and rescinding unspent COVID-19 funds. While this legislation will not pass the Senate, it illustrates the deep divide between the two parties, who must come together in some manner to address the debt ceiling and FY 2024 federal spending.

Later this month, the House Appropriations Committee will begin marking up FY 2024 funding bills. The Senate Appropriations Committee has pledged to advance legislation under regular order (moving bills through committee mark-ups) as well. CSTE will continue to call on both chambers of Congress to make essential, sustained investments in DMI and other critical public health programs, including the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity program and will keep members updated at key stages of the process.

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