Topics on this page: CDC Budget Overview | CDC Programs and Services | HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STI and TB Prevention | Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease | Public Health Scientific Services | Immunization and Respiratory Diseases | Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion | Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities | Environmental Health | Injury Prevention and Control | Occupational Safety and Health | Public Health Preparedness and Response | Global Health | Buildings and Facilities | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and domestic. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, CDC fights disease and protects Americans.
CDC Budget Overview
(Dollars in millions)
| Programs/Funds | 2015 /1 | 2016 | 2017 | 2017 +/- 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immunization and Respiratory Diseases | 798 | 798 | 748 | -50 |
| Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) | 210 | 324 | 336 | +12 |
| Balances from P.L. 111-32 Pandemic Flu (non-add) | 15 | 15 | -- | -15 |
| Vaccines For Children | 3,851 | 4,161 | 4,387 | +226 |
| HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STDs, and TB Prevention | 1,118 | 1,122 | 1,128 | +5 |
| Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases /1 | 405 | 580 | 629 | +50 |
| Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) | 52 | 52 | 52 | -- |
| Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion | 1,199 | 1,177 | 1,117 | -60 |
| Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) | 452 | 339 | 437 | +98 |
| Birth Defects, Developmental Disabilities, Disability and Health /2 | 132 | 136 | 136 | -- |
| Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) | -- | -- | 68 | +68 |
| Environmental Health | 179 | 182 | 182 | -- |
| Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) | 13 | 17 | 14 | -3 |
| Injury Prevention and Control | 170 | 236 | 299 | +63 |
| Mental Health Mandatory Funding (non-add) | -- | -- | 30 | +30 |
| Public Health Scientific Services | 481 | 492 | 501 | +9 |
| Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) | -- | -- | 36 | +36 |
| Occupational Safety & Health | 335 | 339 | 286 | -54 |
| PHS Evaluation Funds (non-add) | -- | -- | 72 | +72 |
| World Trade Center Health Program /2 | 261 | 300 | 335 | +35 |
| Energy Employee Occupational Illness Compensation Program | 50 | 55 | 55 | -- |
| Global Health | 446 | 427 | 442 | +15 |
| Public Health Preparedness and Response | 1,353 | 1,405 | 1,402 | -3 |
| Buildings and Facilities | 10 | 10 | 31 | +21 |
| CDC-Wide Activities and Program Support | 274 | 274 | 114 | -160 |
| Prevention and Public Health Fund (non-add) | 160 | 160 | -- | -160 |
| Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) | 75 | 75 | 75 | -- |
| ATSDR ACA Mandatory Funds /3 | 19 | -- | -- | -- |
| CORD MACRA Mandatory Funds /4 | -- | 10 | -- | -- |
| User Fees | 2 | 2 | 2 | -- |
| Subtotal, Program Level | 11,158 | 11,781 | 11,868 | +87 |
| CDC Budget Totals – Less Funds From Mandatory Sources | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2017 +/- 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaccines for Children | -3,851 | -4,161 | -4,987 | -226 |
| Energy Employee Occupational Injury Compensation Program | -50 | -55 | -55 | -- |
| Mental Health Mandatory Funding | -- | -- | -30 | -30 |
| World Trade Center Health Program /2 | -261 | -300 | -335 | -36 |
| ATSDR ACA Mandatory Funds /3 | 19 | -- | -- | -- |
| PHS Evaluation Funds | -- | -- | -72 | +72 |
| CORD MACRA Mandatory Funds /4 | -- | -10 | -- | -- |
| Prevention and Public Health Fund | -887 | -892 | -944 | -52 |
| User Fees | -2 | -2 | -2 | -- |
| Balances from P.L. 111-32 Pandemic Flu | -15 | -15 | -- | +15 |
| Total, Discretionary Program Level | 6,073 | 6,345 | 6,042 | -303 |
| Full-Time Equivalents | 11,129 | 11,151 | 11,151 | -- |
Tables Footnotes
1/ In addition, the FY 2015 appropriation (P.L. 113-235) provided $1.8 billion in emergency resources for Ebola response and preparedness activities.
2/ Federal share resources. This number does not reflect estimated carryover from FY 2016 that is available under reauthorization. Total WTCHP obligations in FY 2017 will be determined upon final review of the FY 2017 spend plan.
3/ Funds are available through FY 2020.
4/ Funds are available through FY 2017.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the nation’s health protection agency, working to protect Americans from health and safety threats, both foreign and domestic. In addition, CDC’s mission promotes quality of life and prevention of leading causes of disease, injury, disability, and death. These objectives are supported by programs that provide Americans with the essential health information and tools they need to make informed decisions, and protect and advance their health. CDC’s highly trained staff provides critical national leadership that works around the world to save lives through proven prevention strategies, disease detection, and response to public health emergencies.
CDC scientists collect and analyze health data, determining how health threats affect specific populations. This has resulted in effective interventions that protect people from scores of public health threats each year. In the past two years, CDC has conducted more than 750 field investigations in 49 states, five United States territories, and in at least 35 different countries. This reach is vital to ensure CDC can determine the cause of illness and probability of additional exposure in order to facilitate proper communication and response.
The FY 2017 Budget request for CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is $11.9 billion, an increase of $87 million relative to FY 2016. This total includes $944 million from the Prevention and Public Health Fund (Prevention Fund).
The Budget request advances CDC’s core mission work by prioritizing efforts to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria; address the outbreak of opioids misuse, abuse, and overdose; support the improvement of health outcomes for American Indians and Alaskan Natives; support global health protection; and advance laboratory safety and quality. In addition, the Budget includes targeted reductions based on the increased availability of preventive services as a result of the Affordable Care Act.
Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
The mission of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases is to prevent disease, disability, and death through immunization and by control of respiratory and related diseases. In execution of this mission, CDC focuses on the specific needs of all populations at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases, from children to older adults.
CDC’s vaccination efforts are supported by the discretionary Immunization program, and the mandatory Vaccines for Children program. These programs together help improve access to immunization services to uninsured or underinsured individuals in the United States.
The FY 2017 Budget includes $748 million for the discretionary programs supported within CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, a decrease of $50 million below FY 2016. The reduction reflects increased insurance coverage for immunization services through expansion of public and private health insurance included in the Affordable Care Act. This funding will continue to support the key activities necessary to achieve national immunization goals, sustain high vaccination coverage rates, and ultimately prevent death and disability from vaccine‑preventable diseases. This funding will also continue to support influenza planning and response activities, focusing on: increased demand with healthcare providers for influenza vaccination each season through investments in health communication with providers and the general public; targeted outreach to high-risk populations; and partnerships with pharmacists as a means to extend the reach of influenza vaccinations. A study published in March 2015 indicated that seasonal influenza vaccine prevented more than 40,000 flu-associated deaths in the United States between 2005 and 2014.
HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Tuberculosis Prevention
The Budget includes $1.1 billion for domestic HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, and tuberculosis prevention, an increase of $5 million over FY 2016. CDC will continue to align activities with The National HIV/AIDS Strategy: Updated to 2020 through promotion of effective, scalable, and sustainable prevention strategies for individuals living with HIV, in addition to populations at the highest risk for HIV.
The Budget includes $20 million in additional funding for a new demonstration to support increased access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for high-risk populations. PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection by greater than 90 percent when taken as prescribed. The demonstration proposed in the Budget will support expanded access to PrEP, building on pilot efforts to increase use of PrEP for unprotected high-risk individuals, potentially preventing a substantial number of new infections. This demonstration project will allow health departments to use up to 30 percent of these available funds to pay for PrEP medications as the payor of last resort.
The Budget includes a $5 million increase to stop transmission of the virus and prevent viral hepatitis-related illness, disability, and death. CDC’s activities support effective vaccination and testing strategies, in addition to detection efforts to identify and treat outbreaks. These activities are critical given the rising infections and mortality associated with the estimated 3 million Americans living with hepatitis C. These efforts and others, align with the priorities outlined in the HHS Action Plan for the Prevention, Care, and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis.
To further improve efficiency and impact of prevention efforts, CDC initiated epidemic and economic modeling projects, which were developed in collaboration with University-based researchers. These projects inform planning and implementation of interventions targeting HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, and school health. These models will continue to provide critical information on the potential costs, benefits, and return on investment of specific intervention strategies that can have population-level impact.
Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease
The Budget includes $629 million to support CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, an increase of $50 million over FY 2016. This funding facilitates work to reduce illness and death associated with emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases and to protect against the intentional and unintentional spread of infectious diseases. CDC addresses not only rare, deadly diseases like anthrax and Ebola, but also foodborne diseases, mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika and Chikungunya, water safety issues, healthcare-associated infections, migration and quarantine issues, and the identification and control of diseases transmitted by animals and insects. CDC is staffed by some of the world’s top disease detectives -- highly-trained doctors and scientists who investigate and respond to disease and other public health threats. CDC’s disease experts contributed to the fight against smallpox, which resulted in eradication, in addition to the discovery of Legionnaire’s disease, and work to stop the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
The Budget includes $200 million, an increase of $40 million, to support CDC’s Antibiotic Resistance Initiative, along with core antibiotic resistance investments of $18 million, for a total CDC investment in FY 2017 of $218 million to implement the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. The Budget supports implementation of CDC’s surveillance, prevention, and stewardship activities outlined in the National Action Plan to continue pushing forward to reach the ambitious prevention goals.
Program Highlight
Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Antibiotics and similar antimicrobial agents have been used for the last 70 years to treat patients who have infectious diseases. Since the 1940s, these drugs have greatly reduced illness and death. However, these drugs have been used so widely for so long that the infectious organisms the antibiotics are designed to kill have adapted to them, making the drugs less effective.
Each year in the United States, at least two million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 die each year as a direct result of these infections. More and more bacteria are becoming resistant to the antibiotics currently in use, which is why aggressive action is needed to prevent new resistance from developing and halt the existing resistance from spreading.
The Budget includes $200 million, an increase of $40 million, to support CDC’s Antibiotic Resistance Initiative, along with core antibiotic resistance investments of $18 million, for a total CDC investment in FY 2017 of $218 million to implement the CARB Strategy. This funding will serve to implement the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria through activities to reduce the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, protect patients and communities. CDC predicts that the implementation of measures aimed to prevent infections and improve prescribing practices could save up to 37,000 lives from drug-resistant infections over five years.
Public Health Scientific Services
As a pioneer in collecting and using health data, CDC tracks the health of populations and provides timely data used to respond to urgent health issues. This vital information forms the basis of policymaking, biomedical and health services research, lab safety, and improved access to healthcare for everyone. In addition, CDC advises and supports safe, state-of-the-art laboratories across the United States, as a key line of defense against health threats.
The FY 2017 Budget includes $501 million to support these activities, a $9 million increase above FY 2016. CDC has significant impact through the development of multistate testing methods, data systems that collaborate together, and advanced management methods for domestic disease-detecting laboratories. CDC has also developed Epi INFO™, a software network that helps to rapidly identify diseases outbreaks, used by public health professionals in more than 35 countries.
The FY 2017 Budget includes an increase of $5 million to continue support for CDC’s implementation of laboratory safety recommendations, for a total of $38 million across CDC. This funding will enable CDC to maintain its ability to respond to outbreaks, determine unexplained illnesses, support state and local diagnostics, improve pathogen identification of emerging and re-emerging diseases and maintain the world’s most advanced, state-of-the-art infectious disease and environmental public health laboratories.
Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Chronic diseases are the leading cause of poor health, disability, and death in the United States. More than half of all adults have at least one chronic disease and seven of ten deaths each year are caused by chronic diseases. The medical costs associated with chronic diseases, including mental health and substance abuse, account for 86 percent of the nation’s total health care costs, estimated at $2.9 trillion annually. While chronic diseases affect all populations, incidence and prevalence is not evenly distributed. Disease rates vary based on race, ethnicity, education, and income level, with the most disadvantaged Americans most often suffering the highest burden of diseases.
The FY 2017 Budget includes $1.1 billion for chronic disease prevention and health promotion activities, $60 million below FY 2016. This funding will provide critical support to combating the most significant chronic disease issues facing Americans, including tobacco use, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.
The FY 2017 Budget includes $30 million for the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health, which will award a new cooperative agreement incorporating best practices from prior community grant programs, resulting in a stronger, more robust program. Approaches will focus on improving poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, and limited access to clinical and community services by increasing access to healthier environments and quality preventive services. This program will also translate and disseminate grantees’ best practices that have demonstrated cost savings and improvement across health outcomes, magnifying the program’s impact.
The Budget proposes targeted reductions for direct cancer screening services, due to increased coverage through the Affordable Care Act. In FY 2017 and beyond, CDC’s programs will continue to realize cost savings through the benefits provided by Affordable Care Act.
Program Highlight
Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country
American Indians and Alaskan Natives bear a disproportionate burden of death, disease, disability, and injury compared to other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. For example, this population has a higher prevalence of obesity – nearly 10 percent more – than their white counterparts.
There has also been increasing concern over the persistently high rates of suicide, particularly amongst the youth in this population. In 2013, the age-adjusted suicide rate for American Indians and Alaskan Natives was 18.3 per 100,000, compared to 13.8 for the overall population. These and other health issues are driven by higher rates of poverty, unemployment, and low educational achievement, which are linked to key risk behaviors, such as alcohol and tobacco use.
The FY 2017 Budget includes $15 million in additional funding for CDC to expand its existing Comprehensive Approach to Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country grant program. Through the current program, CDC works collaboratively with Tribes, tribal organizations, and Tribal Epidemiology Centers to prevent heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and associated risk factors, such as commercial tobacco. With the additional funding, CDC will build upon its existing program to more comprehensively address these chronic conditions, in addition to expanding to address other pressing health issues facing this population, including suicide, prescription drug overdose, and alcohol-related motor vehicle injuries.
Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities focuses on protecting people who are especially vulnerable to health risks – babies, children, people with blood disorders, and people with disabilities. The FY 2017 Budget includes $136 million to support this center’s activities, the same as FY 2016.
Birth defects affect one in 33 babies and are a leading cause of infant mortality in the United States. More than 5,500 infants die each year because of birth defects, which is twice as many as from sudden infant death syndrome. In addition, babies who survive and live with birth defects are at increased risk for developing many lifelong physical, cognitive, and social challenges.
CDC works to identify causes of birth defects, find opportunities to prevent them, and improve the health of those living with birth defects. This is accomplished through CDC’s implementation of three distinct activities – surveillance or disease tracking, research to identify causes, and prevention research and programs. These key activities allow CDC to rapidly translate scientific findings into appropriate public health interventions to aid in prevention.
Developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy, are impairments in physical, learning, language, or behavioral areas. CDC works to uncover the risk factors for autism and other developmental disabilities to inform prevention programs. The key to successful interventions are CDC’s efforts to detect existing developmental delays and intervene early. CDC will continue to support competitive autism awards to states and universities to enhance surveillance and research for autism and other developmental disabilities, monitor prevalence and contributing risk factors, and better inform policies and programs for prevention and services. This tracking and research infrastructure is key to better understanding autism and other developmental disabilities.
The Budget will continue to support activities that improve the health outcomes for individuals with blood disorders, including hemophilia, venous thromboembolism, thalassemia, and sickle cell disease. CDC works to capitalize on opportunities to improve the quality of life for individuals with blood disorders by reducing healthcare costs, improving healthcare utilization, maximizing the impact of proven prevention strategies, and ensuring the safety of America’s blood supply.
Program Highlight
Prescription Drug Overdose
More people died from drug overdoses in the United States in 2014 than during any previous year on record. From 2000 to 2014 nearly half a million people in the United States died from drug overdoses. In 2014, there were approximately one and a half times more drug overdose deaths in the United States than deaths from motor vehicle crashes.
Overdose deaths are only part of the problem – for each death involving prescription opioids, hundreds of people abuse or misuse these drugs. Emergency department visits for prescription painkiller abuse or misuse have doubled in the past few years to nearly half a million. Prescription opioid-related overdoses cost an estimated $20 billion in medical and work-loss costs each year. Stemming this epidemic is essential to CDC’s goal of preventing the leading cause of disease, disability, and death.
CDC plays an important role in understanding and addressing the causes of the epidemic and has found that higher prescribing of opioid pain relievers is associated with more overdose deaths. In FY 2017, the Budget includes $80 million for CDC’s efforts to address prescription opioids, which is $10 million over FY 2016.
CDC applies its scientific expertise to help curb the epidemic in three ways: improving data quality and surveillance to monitor and respond to the epidemic; supporting states in their efforts to implement effective solutions and interventions; and equipping healthcare providers with the data and tools needed to improve the safety of their patients. The increase in FY 2017 will specifically support the comprehensive translation and dissemination of CDC’s Prescription Drug Overdose guidelines for chronic pain outside end-of-life care. This step is critical to ensure increased uptake in the use of the guidelines amongst providers.
Environmental Health
The World Health Organization estimates that 13 percent of the overall disease burden in the United States is due to environmental factors. Specific threats posed by the environment include contamination of drinking water, dangerous retail food practices, rising sea levels, extreme heat and drought, infectious disease, and radiation emergencies.
CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health works to prevent illness, disability, and death from interactions between people and the environment. Specifically, this includes supporting research to investigate the effects of the environment on health, monitoring and evaluating environmentally-related health problems through surveillance, and collaborating with international and domestic partners to prepare for and respond to natural, technologic, humanitarian, and terrorism-related environmental emergencies.
This mission will continue to be supported by the FY 2017 Budget, which includes $182 million for these activities, the same as FY 2016. This funding includes $10 million to support a new hearing loss prevention, awareness, and education program that targets young to older adults, low to moderate hearing loss, and social stigma.
Injury Prevention and Control
In the United States, violence and injuries cost more than $671 billion a year in medical costs and lost productivity. Almost 193,000 individuals in the United States die from violence and injuries each year: nearly one person every three seconds. In the first half of life, more Americans die from violence and injuries – such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, or homicides – than from any other cause.
CDC’s National Center for Injury Control and Prevention is the nation’s leading authority on injury and violence, researching prevention techniques and applying solutions to real-world issues, keeping Americans safe, healthy, and productive. The FY 2017 Budget includes $299 million in budget authority for injury prevention and control activities, an increase of $63 million above FY 2016.
In addition to this amount, $30 million is included in the Budget to support a new suicide prevention program through a partnership with CDC’s Injury Control Research Centers, state health departments, and in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This program will focus interventions on reducing key risk factors by increasing referral and treatment for suicide behavior, including substance abuse and mental illness, and addressing access to lethal means by individuals at greatest risk of harming themselves and others.
Injury prevention touches upon a variety of issues, including motor vehicle injury, prescription opioid overdose, child abuse and neglect, older adult falls, sexual violence, youth sports concussions, rape prevention, and gun violence. CDC’s work has proven that prevention can save lives. For instance, seat belts have reportedly saved an estimated 63,000 lives between 2008 and 2012. Furthermore, school-based programs for violence prevention have been shown to cut violent behavior 29 percent among high school students.
One of CDC’s high priorities in the FY 2017 Budget is support to address prescription drug and illicit opioid overdose and prevention. Drug overdose deaths have skyrocketed in the past decade, largely because of prescription opioids. The FY 2017 Budget includes $86 million in funding to support these efforts, which is an increase of $10 million over FY 2016. This funding aligns with the Department-wide opioid initiative. CDC’s efforts will advance the initiative’s first priority: to improve opioid prescribing practices and reduce opioid use disorders and overdose.
In 2010, an estimated 2.5 million emergency department visits, hospitalizations, or deaths were associated with a traumatic brain injury in the United States. In FY 2017, CDC will continue its work addressing this problem through surveillance, the identification of effective interventions, and work towards the implementation of strategies to prevent and address these injuries, including concussions. CDC will also continue existing collaborative activities with the Administration for Community Living and other partners to address traumatic brain injuries and prevention associated with older adult falls.
Occupational Safety and Health
CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health works to protect the nation's 157 million workers through research and applied science, addressing the injuries and illnesses that cost the United States $250 billion annually. This work specifically includes: research aimed to reduce work-related illness and injury; promotion of safe and healthy workplaces through interventions, recommendations, and capacity building; and enhancement of international workplace safety and health through global collaborations. This component of CDC works closely with the United States’ Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Mine Safety and Health Administration Research to maximize efforts to protect American workers and miners. The FY 2017 Budget includes $286 million to support these programs, a decrease of $54 million below FY 2016. Reductions reflect the elimination of funding for the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing program and the Education and Research Centers, given the relation to CDC’s mission and the ability to achieve a national impact in a limited-resource environment.
In addition, the Budget includes $335 million in mandatory funding supported by the World Trade Center Health Program, and $55 million in mandatory funding for the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. The World Trade Center Health Program has been extended through FY 2090 under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act. CDC will continue to provide medical monitoring and treatment for eligible responders and survivors of the terrorist attacks that affected New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001.
Public Health Preparedness and Response
Health security depends on the ability of our nation to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from public health threats. CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response is committed to strengthening the nation’s health security by saving lives and protecting against public health threats, whether at home or abroad, natural or man-made. Specifically, CDC supports state, local, tribal, and territorial partners by providing funding, building capacity, offering technical assistance, and championing their critical role in protecting the public health.
The FY 2017 Budget includes $1.4 billion for CDC’s preparedness and response activities, which is $3 million below FY 2016.
Within CDC’s preparedness activities, the Public Health Emergency Preparedness program advances public health system capability development and strengthens public health emergency management and response programs within state, local, and territorial public health agencies, enabling them to respond to public health threats and build resilient communities. To provide ongoing support to these agreements, the Budget includes $660 million, a decrease of $8 million below FY 2016, which reflects elimination of the Advanced Practice Centers. CDC will continue to support research and training for public health preparedness through the public health preparedness and response agenda. The Public Health Emergency Preparedness program closely aligns with and complements ASPR’s Hospital Preparedness Program.
Within this funding, CDC will provide increased support to the improvement of informatics and health information technology, focusing largely on electronic death registration, the National Syndrome Surveillance Program, and disease surveillance enhancements.
The Budget includes $575 million for the Strategic National Stockpile, the same as FY 2016. This funding will provide ongoing support to CDC’s management, delivery, storage, and replenishment costs to the medical countermeasures included in the stockpile. At this level, CDC will provide for ongoing replenishments, supporting the nation’s level of preparedness for a variety of threats.
Within CDC’s preparedness activities, the Budget includes an increase of $5 million for the Select Agent Program. In collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture, this program is responsible for the regulation, possession, use, and transfer of potentially dangerous biological agents and toxins in the United States. The increase for the Federal Select Agent Program will allow for improved training of inspectors, increased frequency and number of inspections, and increased assistance to registered entities to prevent accidental or intentional release of select agents. Additionally, this program supports CDC’s laboratory safety and quality initiative through its work in laboratories handling dangerous pathogens and toxins.
Program Highlight
Global Health Security Agenda
Launched February 13, 2014, the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) brings the United States and partners around the world together to protect populations from pandemic threats, economic loss, instability, and loss of life. CDC is a key implementer of the GHSA because of its technical expertise, existing country platforms, and strong government-to-government relationships.
In the FY 2017 Budget, CDC’s global health and other infectious disease funding supports the goals of the GHSA and includes a targeted $5 million increase to support the Phase Two countries. This level is necessary to maintain foundational support needed to continue to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats and to address on-going epidemics. Epidemic threats to national security arise at unpredictable intervals and from unexpected sources. Because these threats do not recognize national borders, the health of people overseas directly affects America’s safety and prosperity, with far-reaching implications for economic security, trade, the stability of foreign governments, and the well-being of United States citizens at home. If we are to save lives and protect U.S. health security, CDC must accelerate efforts to build the systems and workforce needed to better respond to a range of disease threats.
Global Health
The most effective and least expensive way to protect Americans from diseases and other health threats that begin overseas is to stop them before they spread to our shores. CDC detects and controls disease outbreaks at the source, saving lives and reducing healthcare costs. In addition, fighting diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis help reduce poverty and strengthen stability in developing countries.
CDC engages internationally with 1,700 staff in over 60 countries to protect the health of the American people and save lives worldwide. With scientists and health experts embedded in countries around the globe, CDC works with partners to adapt scientific evidence into policies and public health actions, strengthening public health capacity and improving health outcomes in partner countries.
The FY 2017 Budget includes $449 million for CDC global health activities, which is an increase of $15 million above FY 2016. This funding will continue supporting key global health activities including global HIV/AIDs, global tuberculosis, measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases, parasitic diseases and malaria, and ongoing global health protection. This funding level also includes an increase of $5 million to expand efforts supporting polio eradication.
In addition, this funding supports efforts to expand global health protection worldwide, and implement the goals of the Global Health Security Agenda, to accelerate progress towards a world safe and secure from infectious disease threats and to promote global health security as an international security priority.
Buildings and Facilities
The FY 2017 Budget includes an increase of $21 million, for a total of $31 million, for CDC’s facility repair and improvements. With a significant number of CDC’s facilities in a mature phase of the facility life cycle, a rigorous, preventive maintenance program is paramount to ensure facility functionality and preparedness for continued service. Investments in FY 2017 will directly support CDC’s ability to support its mission to improve public health.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
ATSDR serves the public by using the best science, taking responsible public health actions, and providing trusted health information to prevent harmful exposures and diseases related to toxic substances. Specific functions include public health assessments of waste sites, health consultations concerning specific hazardous substances, health surveillance and registries, response to emergency releases of hazardous substances, applied research in support of public health assessments, information development and dissemination, and education and training concerning hazardous substances.
The FY 2017 Budget includes $75 million for ATSDR, which is the same as FY 2016. This funding level will maintain ATSDR’s scientific and programmatic capabilities necessary to safeguard human health.
