2019 Funding Updates

This week the House passed the Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS) FY19 funding bill following the Senate passage last week. As a reminder, the FY 2019 bill contains $157.3 million for STDs within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – level funding from FY 2018, which is current year funding. The President is expected to sign the bill before the October 1 deadline, which will be the first time in 22 years that the LHHS bill has been enacted before the end of the fiscal year.  The LHHS bill also contains with it a continuing resolution for the remaining FY19 funding bills, so by signing it, a government shutdown will be prevented. Once the President signs the LHHS funding bill, NCSD will send members a final detailed analysis with a funding chart.

The House is also expected to pass a bipartisan opioid package in the coming days, which the Senate passed last week. The bill authorizes $40 million a year over five years to support state and local governments in conducting surveillance and education efforts for preventing opioid use-related infectious diseases, increase HIV and hepatitis testing and prevention, and improve linkage to HIV and hepatitis treatment and substance use disorder treatment. For more information about the full opioid bill click here. NCSD is continuing to educate the public and policy makers about the connection between STDs and drug use, including opioids, and the need for additional funding for STDs in the wake of the opioid epidemic.