Safe States and Partners Oppose Proposed Cuts to Health Funding

Safe States and 164 national, state, and local partners oppose the drastic cuts proposed to health programs by the House Appropriations Committee. They call for maintaining investments in injury and violence prevention.

The coalition, comprising medical, public health, non-profit, and research organizations, strongly opposes the proposed $1.8 billion cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The proposed cuts would eliminate funding for the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC). They appeal to Congress to reject the House Labor-HHS Appropriations funding bill for fiscal year 2025.

Injuries and violence are critical public health threats in the U.S. According to the CDC, more Americans die from violence and injuries in the first half of life than from any other cause. Supported prevention programs can reduce these incidents.

The proposed funding measure includes a 22% cut to the CDC. Eliminating the NCIPC would cut $761 million from crucial programs like firearm injury research and opioid overdose prevention. Richard Hamburg, Safe States Executive Director, emphasizes the significant return on investment from these programs.

Robust investment in the CDC is essential for America’s health. The proposed cuts threaten to undo decades of progress. Hamburg states, "The proposed evisceration of the CDC's Injury Center is short-sighted, with real-life consequences."