Yesterday, Congress released its final fiscal year (FY) 2017 Appropriations bill after negotiations were completed over the weekend.  I am sorry to report that within this bill, the Division of STD Prevention (DSTDP) at CDC was cut by $5 million.  This cut was first passed by the Senate’s Labor Health and Human Services Subcommittee in June of 2016 and unfortunately, despite our advocacy efforts ever since, it was retained in the final negotiated bill.  The bill can be found here.  As you will note, generally, if the House or Senate had previously passed cuts to federal programs for FY ’17, these cuts were maintained, with some notable exceptions.

Obviously this is very disappointing news.  Please see NCSD’s response below– an NCSD press release as well as statement we joined with five other national organizations.

Please know that we will continue to fight every day on your behalf and be the strongest advocates for your work with elected officials.  To that end, NCSD is planning a first annual STD Day of Action June 20-21 in Washington, targeting members of the House and Senate Labor Health and Human Services Subcommittee.  I will be reaching out with additional information on how NCSD members can assist us in this work— please be looking out for an email from me.  This is just the beginning of a new focus to our advocacy efforts–please stay tuned.  If you have questions or concerns, please contact me via email or phone (202-715-3875).

Stephanie Arnold Pang
Director of Policy and Communications

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Despite STDs Surging to 20-Year High, Congress Cuts FY ’17 STD Funding
May 1, 2017

Washington, DC – Over the weekend, Congress completed final negotiations on federal funding for the current fiscal year and included a $5 million cut to federal sexually transmitted disease (STD) funding.

“At a time of a 20-year high in STDs in the United States, this funding cut is devastating,” says David C. Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD). “Federal STD funding has not been increased since 2003.  Due to inflation and small cuts, this translates into a 38% reduction in purchasing power in 14 years,” Harvey adds.

“Funding cuts mean that efforts to fight against babies being born with Congenital Syphilis, increasing levels of drug-resistant gonorrhea, and skyrocketing rates of syphilis across the country — especially among gay men — will be hurt,” says Stephanie S. Arnold Pang, director of policy communications at NCSD. “This comes on the heels of the release of information that showed that syphilis has risen in 48 states-with 11 states seeing dramatic increases of over 200 percent in just four years.”

NCSD will work with our members, grassroots advocates, Congressional allies, and the Trump Administration to increase funding for STDs in the 2018 budget process.  For more information, go to www.ncsddc.org.