In a significant development for the upcoming fiscal year, the House Appropriations Committee (HAC) passed its FY 2025 Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) appropriations bill. The bill was released on June 26, followed by the accompanying report (a document that outlines the Committee’s intentions) on July 9. On July 10, the HAC considered the bill during a full committee meeting. It was a long and contentious discussion, lasting nearly six hours and filled with extensive debates. The atmosphere was far from harmonious. Democrats criticized the legislation, pointing out that the majority had excluded at least $60 billion in non-defense funding (which includes public health) that both parties had agreed to in last summer’s debt ceiling agreement. The bill passed out of committee by a party-line vote of 31 to 25.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the House’s bill. The proposed funding levels fall short of addressing the needs of our public health system. Reducing critical investments in public health, as this bill does, is a shortsighted, ineffective, and irresponsible approach to tackling the broader fiscal challenges our country faces. A particularly alarming example are the deep cuts (about 22 percent) to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The cuts indicate a push to refocus the CDC toward infectious diseases at the expense of other equally important public health efforts. While this version of the bill will not become law, as proposed, these cuts would devastate public health infrastructure and reduce crucial investments for public health response.

Below are some key takeaways:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• A 22% decrease overall, $2.3 billion less than the President’s FY25 budget request, and $1.8 billion below the FY24 enacted level.
• $780.7 million for emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases, an increase of about $20 million from the FY24 enacted level. One important note is that $15 million of the increase is allocated to myotic diseases, while $8.5 million is designated for prion diseases.
• Eliminates critical efforts, such as the Opioid Overdose Prevention program.
• Ends the HIV Epidemic initiative.
• Eliminates the Center for Forecasting and Analytics.
• Eliminates the Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
• Eliminates the Climate and Health program and Tobacco Prevention and Control Program.
• Reduces funding for CDC's global health program.

More detail on topline agency numbers from the House proposal as they compare to current funding levels for FY24 is detailed below:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Final FY24: $9,222,090,000
• House FY25: $7,446,058,000

Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC)

• Final FY24: $40,000,000
• House FY25: $40,000,000

Public Health Data Modernization

• Final FY24: $175,000,000
• House FY25: $175,000,000

Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics

• Final FY24: $55,000,000 (combined with the Response Ready Enterprise Data Integration platform)
• House FY25: $0

With the bad news out of the way, all hope is not lost. The House majority intends to bring their bill to the floor the week of July 29, but with a razor thin majority and the inclusion of controversial funding levels and policy riders, it is not certain they will have the votes to pass it. It is also important to remember that the Senate usually approaches its appropriations process in a bipartisan way, so funding levels are far from final.

Now is where you come in. Now is a time to make it clear to members of Congress that continued investment in public health is crucial. The Senate Appropriations Committee has not yet released its Labor-HHS bill, but the Committee is scheduled to resume consideration of FY25 proposals the week of July 22 when Congress returns from a one-week recess.

The voices of those directly impacted by public health policies are crucial in shaping a healthier future for our communities. You can make a difference by reaching out (in your personal capacity) to your legislators to let them know public health is something important and valued by their constituents.

CSTE has partnered with the American Public Health Association to provide an opportunity for you to submit a message to your members of Congress, urging them to support increased funding for critical public health agencies and programs as they develop the FY25 Labor-HHS bill. It takes just a few minutes to submit a letter (draft provided) through the platform which will automatically route your letter to your representative. Be sure to complete the form by July 31. Feel free to share the link to APHA’s take-action site with other supporters of public health.

Additionally, including local stories about how investments in public health have positively impacted your community and challenges that could arise from disinvestment are valuable. Hearing from their own constituents about their priorities will influence decisions on Capitol Hill. 

As always, CSTE will keep representing your needs in Congress including robust funding of the public health system and will keep you informed as the appropriations process continues to unfold.