BCHC urges Congress to maximize FY25 CDC funding for public health infrastructure and key programs
September 2024
In a letter to the House Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies, the Big Cities Health Coalition (BCHC) has urged allocation of the highest possible funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the FY 2025 budget.
BCHC highlights the need for sustained funding to strengthen public health infrastructure and prepare for future health emergencies. The coalition calls for specific funding increases for key CDC programs.
BCHC advocates for the inclusion of report language ensuring that federal funds reach local health departments and urging CDC to require states to pass on funding where appropriate and to track how much is allocated to local agencies.
The letter requests $697 million for the National Immunization Program to modernize immunization systems, $508 million for opioid overdose prevention, and $12.5 million for gun violence prevention research.
BCHC also supports $18 million for youth and community violence prevention initiatives and emphasizes the need for CDC involvement in violence reduction.
Additionally, BCHC recommends $195 million for public health data modernization, $365 million for public health infrastructure and capacity, $70 million for epidemic forecasting and outbreak analytics, and $20 million for wastewater surveillance.
These investments would ensure more robust data systems, enhance disease prevention efforts, and strengthen the nation’s overall public health response.
BCHC stresses the urgency of passing the FY 2025 spending package to support these critical public health initiatives and invites further discussion to provide additional information.