Appropriations

As we have mentioned before, Congress is currently in the process of negotiating fiscal year 2019 funding, including appropriations for the Division of STD Prevention (DSTDP) at CDC. On the Senate side, Senators Shaheen and Hassan wrote a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services to support $227.3 million for sexually transmitted disease prevention at the CDC. We are currently in the process of asking other senators to sign on. To support this effort to get sign-ons, visit our Take Action Center.

Opioids

Last week, a bipartisan Senate bill to address opioids was announced, “The Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018.”  A summary of the proposed bill can be found here.  The draft includes reference to preventing and responding to infections commonly associated with drug use, including viral hepatitis and HIV.  On Wednesday, April 11, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing on the proposed bill.  The hearing can be watched here.

The draft bill would affect the NIH, FDA, CDC, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), as well as provide support for families and workers affected by the opioid crisis.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Finance Committee are also talking about hearings and other steps to address the crisis in the near future.