Press Release
Congress Reverses Federal STD Funding Cut
With First Proactive STD Funding Increase in 15 years, NCSD Applauds Congress' Support of Federal Funding for STDs, HIV, Opioids, and Other Programs
March 21, 2018
For Immediate Release
Contact: Matt Prior, mprior@ncsddc.org, 570-878-3847
Washington, DC – Congress has taken a first crucial step toward restoring critical support to America’s public health and STD prevention infrastructure. Its final FY 2018 funding bill reverses a federal STD prevention cut of $5 million that was passed last year. NCSD applauds this action and urges Congress to pass this bill that supports total funding of $157.3 million for FY 2018.
This is an essential down-payment that will help states fight the growing burden of STDs, which have reached an all-time high in America. Today’s action by Congress is the first proactive move to increase support for state STD prevention programs in 15 years. It is a small victory amidst a growing public health crisis, and NCSD will continue working with our allies in Congress to provide additional increases in FY 2019.
STDs are at epidemic levels nationally. Since the beginning of March 2018, Milwaukee, Pennsylvania, Montana, Kansas, Alaska, and Arizona all reported seeing dramatic increases in STDs. These articles cite outbreaks of syphilis and babies being born with syphilis, a condition once all but eradicated. These worrying reports reflect a nationwide trend that cannot be ignored.
Over the last 15 years, STD prevention funding at the CDC has seen a $21 million reduction at the same time that we have seen dramatic increases in STDs. States need a total of $227.3 million in STD funding in FY 2019 to begin to prevent loss of life and complications due to congenital syphilis, infertility as a result of STDs, and to fight drug-resistant gonorrhea. Funding STD prevention works, saving countless lives and millions in health care costs each year.
NCSD also applauds action to fund family planning, HIV prevention, a small increase in hepatitis and new funding for opioids, NIH, and funding for the Ryan White CARE Act. These programs all contribute to the national effort to reduce the burden of STDs in America.
NCSD will release a complete federal funding chart for these programs once the bill is signed into law.
