Budget and Appropriations

FY18: Last Friday, President Trump signed the FY18 funding bill into law!!  As you likely saw from NCSD’s statement last week, for the first time since 2003, Congress increased funding for the Division of STD Prevention (DSTDP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reversing a $5 million cut to DSTDP from last year! This funding restoration is a big win for our field and is a “down payment” in getting STDs programs the additional funding needed to respond to record-levels of morbidity. It comes after a year of increased visibility of STDs in the press and on the Hill through three NCSD-organized STD Days of Action.  A very big thank you to everyone who participated in Hill meetings this year or recommended partners to come to DC and advocate for STD prevention funding. Please know that your efforts are making a difference!

FY19: Congress is in the process of developing FY19 funding bills, including negotiating funding for DSTDP.  On the House side, Representative Cicilline from Rhode Island, with support from NCSD, wrote a letter to fellow members asking 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. Thirty-six members of the House signed on to the letter—the first time that a standalone STD funding letter has been circulated!

Soon, we hope that a letter will be circulated on the Senate side and we will let you know so you can reach out and encourage your Senators to sign on!