Policy Update
This Week in Congress – October 6, 2017
Here's the scoop on what's happening this week in Congress.
NCSD and partners beat the halls of Congress for a Day of Action, budget moves towards reconciliation, and the Prevention and Public Health Fund is under attack.
Day of Action
On Wednesday, NCSD, the American Sexually Transmitted Disease Association (ASTDA), the Association for Sexual Health (ASHA), and the National Network of STD Prevention Training Centers (NNPTC) teamed up for a day on the Hill! The timing of the new CDC surveillance data was perfect for this Day of Action (DoA), as we were able to talk to offices about the new data showing rising rates of STDs and talk to them about why it is so important that CDC’s Division of STD Prevention be more adequately funded. This DoA was the next part of our efforts to educate Congressional offices as to the important work of the STD field and the soaring rates of STDs in the United States. Please join us on November 12th when we do an educational Hill day in connection with the NCSD Engage Annual Meeting!! If you are interested in participating, please sign up when you register for the Annual Meeting or email Rebekah Horowitz.
Federal Policy Update:
FY18 Budget: Floor considerations of the House FY18 budget resolution began Wednesday, with alternative budgets from the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Progressive Caucus being voted down. The underlying budget blueprint received a floor vote on Thursday, after the House voted down alternative plans from the Republican Study Committee and House Budget Committee Democrats. Wednesday and Thursday, the Senate Budget Committee marked up their FY18 budget resolution.
If Senate and House Republicans agree to a budget and pass it with budget reconciliation “instructions,” they would unlock the budget reconciliation process, allowing a bill to advance in the Senate with only 51 votes instead of the usual 60 thereby preventing a Democratic filibuster. The Senate released its version on Friday. The assumption is that the plan is to use the budget reconciliation for tax reform but there is still some wiggle room for Republicans to also take a bite out of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Medicare and Medicaid.
Prevention and Public Health Fund: On Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the Community Health and Medical Professionals Improve Our Nation Act of 2017 (CHAMPION Act), which would pay for reauthorization of several critical primary care programs, in part, by cutting more than $6 billion from the ACA’s Prevention and Public Health Fund.
Health and Human Services: On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed Eric Hargan as the next Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Hargan served under President George W. Bush in several positions at HHS, including deputy general counsel, chief of staff to the deputy secretary, and acting deputy secretary. Last week, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Price, resigned amid controversy. The White House has not yet commented as to whether Hargan, as the Department’s “number 2,” would take on the role of acting secretary from current acting Secretary, Don Wright.
