Policy Update
NCSD Sends Letter to Congress Opposing Proposed Cut to Division of STD Prevention
As has been noted in recent NCSD Federal Policy Updates, the Senate’s fiscal year (FY) 2017 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill contains a proposed $5 million cut to the Division of STD Prevention (DSTDP) at the CDC.
NCSD has ratcheted up its outreach to Members of Congress to ensure they are aware of the proposed cut and its potential impact.
As part of NCSD’s advocacy on behalf of its members and as the lead organization in DC on STD prevention and control, on June 23rd, NCSD sent to Congress a letter stating our strong opposition to this cut and outlining why, in a time of increasing STD rates, now especially is not the time for a cut to domestic STD prevention and control. A full copy of this letter can be found here.
As the letter notes, the 10 year cost of a sustained $5 million dollar cut to DSTDP is $105 million dollars- more than double the value of the budget cut- as a result of additional cases of STDs and their costs to the health care system. Additionally, appropriated funding levels for DSTDP have been reduced by $21 million since 2003– a reduction of 40 percent in buying power for CDC and its state, local and territorial grantees.
NCSD will continue its advocacy around this proposed cut as work on FY17 funding continues.