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FY 2007 Budget in Brief

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention promotes health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability.

The FY 2007 budget requests a total program level of $8.2 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a net decrease of $179 million below FY 2006. CDC works with States, communities, and other partners to monitor health, detect and investigate health problems, conduct research to enhance prevention, implement prevention strategies, and promote healthy behaviors. The FY 2007 request supports implementation of the Administration's ongoing pandemic influenza preparedness activities; increased funding for a new domestic HIV/AIDS initiative; improvements in childhood immunizations; and expansions to the Strategic National Stockpile. These increases are offset by reductions in one-time emergency funding, reductions proposed in FY 2006, areas not focused on primary prevention, and CDC-wide administrative efficiencies. CDC's total program level includes $2.1 billion in mandatory Vaccines for Children funding, and $265 million in Public Health Service evaluation transfers.

Preparing for Pandemic Influenza

An influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza virus strain emerges in the human population, causes serious illness, and then spreads easily from person-to-person worldwide. In FY 2006, CDC will invest $200 million in emergency funding to intensify surveillance, containment, and outbreak response measures, establish additional laboratory capacity, and increase the number of quarantine stations, consistent with the the HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan. The FY 2007 budget requests $188 million in CDC to enhance our pandemic preparedness. With this funding, CDC will continue ongoing pandemic influenza preparedness efforts and initiate new activities. The reduction in overall pandemic funding is due to one-time resources provided in FY 2006 for CDC laboratories and the advanced development of rapid testing.

During the course of a pandemic, information will be needed to help guide decisions on the allocation of resources such as vaccine, antiviral drugs, and professional staff. New funding is included to develop models and decision tools designed to predict disease patterns using current data, which will be used to inform decision making by public health and other officials. Resources are also included for a vaccine registry needed to track, distribute, and administer influenza vaccines and other countermeasures.

In addition, the budget includes new resources for States to increase demand for annual influenza vaccine. This effort will increase vaccine production capacity and make people more aware of vaccination, especially in the event that a pandemic vaccination campaign is necessary.

CDC will also need to increase its own capacity to prepare for a pandemic. In FY 2007, CDC requests resources to rapidly conduct genetic analysis and establish a reference library of currently circulating influenza viruses in a collaborative effort with FDA. These genetic analyses and reference libraries are needed to rapidly and accurately characterize the current influenza strain for development of an effective vaccine. CDC will also establish laboratory facilities with proper biocontaiment specifications, space and special equipment, animal resources, and trained personnel to conduct these investigations. The request also includes funding to increase the stock of diagnostic reagents for influenza that would be needed in bulk in the event of a pandemic. Funding will provide for the acquisition, storage, shipping, and support of the newly acquired reagents.

The FY 2007 request also supports pandemic influenza efforts initiated in FY 2006. These activities include improvements in domestic disease surveillance by expanding the number of areas able to report near real-time disease detection data through BioSense. Funding is also requested to continue to increase and updgrade quarantine stations at major ports of entry (sea, land, and air). In addition, CDC will continue to support global surveillance and detection activities in endemic, epdimeic, and other high risk countries.

Infectious Diseases

The FY 2007 budget includes a total of $1.8 billion in discretionary funding for the Infectious Diseases budget activity for efforts related to the prevention and control of infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and to provide immunization services for children and adults nationwide.

HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Dieases & Tuberculosis Prevention: The FY 2007 request provides $1.0 billion, an increase of $86 million, to develop, implement, and evaluate effective domestic prevention programs for HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD), and Tuberculosis (TB).

Each year, approximately 40,000 Americans are infected with HIV/AIDS. The FY 2007 budget request provides $740 million for domestic HIV/AIDS prevention. Within this total, $93 million is for CDC’s component of the new $188 million domestic HIV/AIDS initiative focused on HIV testing, outreach, and treatment. The goal of this new initiative is to slow the growth in the number of new AIDS cases and reduce the future burden of the disease. With this funding, CDC will expand rapid testing to communities and populations hardest hit with HIV/AIDS to identify individuals who are infected with the HIV virus, but do not know it. The initiative will test up to 3 million additional Americans with an emphasis on at-risk populations, including low income and minority communities.

The President's Budget requests $293 million in FY 2007 for STD and TB prevention programs to provide grants and technical assistance to State and local governments and organizations for prevention and control services. Funds are also included to support surveillance and research.

Improving Childhood Immunization Coverage: In March 2005, CDC announced a major public health milestone � the elimination of rubella virus in the U.S., which was once a common disease in this country.

CDC's $2.6 billion immunization program has two components: the mandatory Vaccines for Children (VFC) program and the discretionary Section 317 program. The VFC program provides vaccines at no cost to children 18 years of age or younger who are Medicaid eligible, uninsured, American Indians and Alaska Natives, or who receive their immunizations at Federally qualified health centers and who have health insurance that does not include coverage for vaccines. Vaccines provided through the VFC program represent 40 percent of all childhood vaccines purchased in the U.S. The discretionary Section 317 program provides funds to support State immunization infrastructure and operational costs as well as many of the vaccines public health departments provide to individuals not eligible for VFC, including adults. VFC funding increases in FY 2007 due to new vaccine purchases and stockpile procurements.

Children with limited health insurance must receive their vaccinations at a Health Center or a specially designated Federally Qualified Health Center. Legislation is sought to enable these children to obtain VFC vaccines at public health clinics as well, which will improve access and immunization coverage rates. This improved access is projected to expand the VFC program by $140 million while reducing by $100 million the demand for vaccines purchased through the discretionary Section 317 program. The FY 2007 budget also includes $300 million to continue progress toward HHS's goal of establishing a six month vendor managed stockpile of all routinely recommended pediatric vaccines, and catching up on immunizations that were missed during vaccine shortages in recent years.

Ensuring an Adequate Supply of Annual Influenza Vaccine: In FY 2007, CDC will continue to work closely with vaccine manufacturers to ensure access to annual influenza vaccine for the 2007/2008 flu season. Consistent with the HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan, CDC's immunization efforts to increase demand for annual influenza will provide vaccine manufacturers with a reliable, growing market that would be an incentive to increase their vaccine production capacity. CDC will also continue to direct $40 million through the VFC program to purchase influenza vaccine for the national pediatric stockpile as protection against annual outbreaks of influenza. The FY 2007 budget does not include $30 million for the bulk monovalent influenza stockpile. The no-year funds provided in FY 2006 can be used to purchase vaccine for the 2007/2008 flu season. Also, vaccine purchased in FY 2006 can be used in the following year if the circulating strain remains the same.

Infectious Disease Control: Although modern advances have conquered some diseases, the outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), monkeypox, and the threat of pandemic influenza are recent reminders of the extraordinary ability of microbes to adapt and evolve. The FY 2007 budget includes $245 million to conduct surveillance, epidemic investigations, epidemiologic and laboratory research, training, and public education programs to develop, evaluate, and promote prevention and control strategies for infectious diseases. This level reduces funding for West Nile Virus by $10 million, reflecting the decrease in cases over the past few years.

Global Health

Every day, two million people cross national borders as tourists, business travelers, immigrants, or refugees. Health events that occur far from our shores influence health within the U.S. The FY 2007 budget totals $381 million for CDC's global health activities.

Through the Global AIDS Program, CDC works in partnership with USAID; HRSA; the Departments of State, Labor, and Defense; other Federal agencies; and multilateral and bilateral partners to ameliorate the global devastation caused by HIV/AIDS. The FY 2007 budget includes $122 million in direct funding for ongoing prevention, care, treatment, surveillance, and capacity-building programs in 25 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. CDC is also a Federal partner in the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief that is financed through the Department of State. CDC received approximately $440 million from the Department of State in 2005.

Each year, malaria kills almost 1.2 million people, with the vast majority of victims being young children in Africa. On June 30, 2005, President Bush challenged the world to dramatically reduce malaria as a major killer of children in sub-Sahara Africa by reducing malaria mortality by 50 percent in up to 15 African countries. CDC malaria activities support prevention and control of malaria through collaborative efforts with other Federal agencies, national and international organizations, and foreign governments by working with malaria endemic countries to change and implement policies to decrease malaria, and by conducting research to develop new tools and improve existing interventions against worldwide malaria.

The budget provides $144 million for global polio and measles activities. CDC is part of an international effort to eradicate polio and to reduce measles deaths worldwide. Global polio incidence has declined by more than 99 percent from 1988 to 2004. The number of endemic countries has been reduced from 125 countries in 1988 to six in 2004. About 250,000 lives have been saved and five million cases of childhood paralysis have been avoided.

Terrorism

The request includes $1.7 billion, a net increase of $25 million over FY 2006, for CDC to conduct bioterrorism preparedness activities. The bioterrorism budget supports the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), Mass Casualty Initiative, critical surveillance and quarantine efforts, and botulinum toxin research. Resources are maintained for State and local preparedness activities.

Strategic National Stockpile and Mass Casualty Initiative: Within this total, priority is given to ensuring a sufficient supply of countermeasures and portable treatment units available to protect and care for victims of a bioterrorism attack or other public health emergency. The SNS will receive a total of $593 million, of which nearly $50 million will finance the purchase, maintenance, and operation of portable hospital units to support the Mass Casualty Initiative. When local healthcare systems are overwhelmed due to a mass casualty event like a bioterrorist attack or nuclear power plant accident, these units can be deployed to expand hospital surge capacity. The remaining funds will finance the procurement, warehousing, and maintenance of critical pharmaceuticals and vaccines needed to protect Americans from threat agents and support the capacity to deliver drugs, vaccines, and supplies anywhere in the nation within 12 hours.

Biosurveillance Initiative: FY 2007 pandemic influenza funding designated to support the Biosurveillance Initiative will serve the dual purpose of enhancing our Nation’s ability to prevent the introduction and spread of disease caused by a bioterrorism agent originating abroad and to detect domestic outbreaks early. This investment will increase the number of quarantine stations at major ports of entry and extend BioSense, CDC’s near real-time human health surveillance system, to additional users in States and metropolitan areas.

Botulinum Toxin Research: CDC’s Environmental Health Laboratory has developed a mass spectrometry method to detect botulinum toxin in people and the nation’s milk supply. The request includes $3 million in new funding which will allow CDC to use the mass spectrometry method, that allows for detection of botulinum in 15 seconds, and detects anthrax, ricin, and other toxins used as bioweapons. Additionally, these funds will support the development of quicker, simpler, and more cost effective methods for use in internal and external laboratories. Finally, this investment will lead to the creation of research methods that will help identify the source of the toxin, provide forensic information, and assist epidemiologists in investigating the cause and pathways of disease. These breakthrough advances will improve the ability to detect contamination and exposure early, leading to prompt, appropriate treatment and prevention of additional exposure.

State and Local Preparedness: CDC remains committed to assisting State and local health departments in preparation and response to a terrorist attack, infectious disease outbreak, or other public health emergency. The FY 2007 President’s Budget request includes $824 million for these efforts, bringing the total State and local preparedness investment to approximately $5.4 billion since FY 2002. This funding has resulted in all 50 states participating in the Health Alert Network, and 41 out of the 54 States and directlyfunded cities meeting the minimum standards for demonstrating preparedness to use Strategic National Stockpile assets.

Upgrading CDC Capacity and Anthrax Research: The FY 2007 request includes $136 million for upgrading CDC capacity. With these funds, CDC will continue to improve epidemiological expertise in the identification and control of diseases caused by terrorism, including better electronic communication, distance learning programs, and cooperative agreement training between public health agencies and local hospitals. This request provides support for upgrading capacity at CDC, oversight of inter-laboratory transfers of dangerous pathogens and toxins, and laboratory safety inspections. Funding is not included for research on older anthrax vaccines.

Health Promotion

Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, accounting for 70 percent of all deaths in the U.S. Currently, more than 125 million Americans live with chronic conditions, affecting their quality of life and leading to costly, yet preventable, health problems. In addition, birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality in the United States with more than 120,000 infants born with birth defects each year.

The FY 2007 budget for the Health Promotion budget activity includes $819 million for the Chronic Disease Prevention, Health Promotion, and Genomics activities as well as $110 million for Birth Defects, Developmental Disabilities, Disability, and Health. The FY 2007 request continues to fund a wide range of activities, including support for: programs to promote healthy behaviors; studies to better understand the causes of these diseases; and surveys to better monitor the health of the Nation. It also includes a reduction in categorical programs not focused on primary prevention.

Health Information and Service

The budget for Health Information and Service includes $262 million for Health Statistics, Health Marketing, and Public Health Informatics.

The FY 2007 budget for Health Statistics includes $109 million to obtain and use health statistics to understand health problems, recognize emerging trends, identify risk factors, and guide programs and policy. CDC's health statistics programs will continue to provide data to monitor key national health indicators and address specific research needs in areas that include oral health, mental health, vision, diabetes, and diet and nutrition.

Public health informatics uses information systems and information technology to prevent diseases, disability, and other public health threats. The request includes $109 million to continue to build on efforts to ensure that public health departments' disease outbreak detection and reporting systems incorporate the common standards that facilitate real-time sharing of key data among public health officials responsible for verifying, investigating, and responding to outbreaks.

Funding for the Health Marketing activity in FY 2007 is requested at $43 million. This activity focuses on providing people with knowledge that empowers them to make informed personal choices about their health and on developing and improving systems to give people more opportunities to act on those choices.

Environmental Health and Injury

The budget includes $279 million for Environmental Health and Injury Prevention and Control activities.

The Environmental Health activity protects human health from environmental hazards and assists States and local health agencies in developing and increasing their ability and capacity to address environmental health problems. Additionally, CDC provides complete, timely, and accessible data on environmentally related diseases and conditions, including asthma, childhood lead poisoning and genetic diseases; improves the understanding of risk factors for, and causes of, environmentally related diseases and conditions; and develops effective prevention programs. The FY 2007 budget provides $141 million for these activities. Funding is reduced in FY 2007 due to a reduction in activities not focused on primary prevention.

Injuries are the leading cause of death of children and young adults in the U.S. The budget request for FY 2007 includes $138 million to support programs focused on youth violence, residential fire deaths, intimate partner violence, non-fatal fall traumatic brain injury, child abuse and neglect, rape prevention and education, and other injury prevention and control initiatives.

Occupational Safety and Health

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the primary Federal entity responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related illness and injury. NIOSH translates knowledge gained from research into products and services that improve workers' safety and health in settings from corporate offices to construction sites and coal mines. The FY 2007 budget includes $250 million for NIOSH activities. CDC assists in the implementation of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act of 2000; funds for this activity are provided by the Department of Labor.

Public Health Research

Public Health Research provides much needed evidence to support specific programs, practices, and policies that affect health decisions made by the American public and those responsible for health policies and programs. With funding of $31 million for its health protection research initiative, CDC is building a cadre of health protection researchers, research training programs, and centers of excellence that encourage multidisciplinary approaches to public health practice.

Public Health Improvement and Leadership

The FY 2007 President's Budget includes $190 million for Public Health Improvement and Leadership. This activity supports several crosscutting areas within CDC whose purposes are to ensure more efficient and effective science and program development. The reduction of $75 million in FY 2007 is in no-year funding provided in FY 2006 to follow-up and treat World Trade Center emergency workers.

Business Services Support

The Business Services Support budget activity includes a wide range of agency-wide operating costs, such as rent, utilities, and security. It also funds the business services functions at CDC (such as grants management, financial management, facilities management, etc.), and additional mission-support activities.

CDC has made a variety of improvements in its business and management operations. For example, CDC consolidated 13 information technology infrastructure functions, services, staff and fiscal resources into the Information Technology Services Office, and has merged over 40 public and medical professional inquiry hotlines into a single integrated customer service center. Additional funding is included to cover costs associated with rent and UFMS for a total of $304 million.

Management Savings

In FY 2007, CDC will achieve agency-wide administrative and information technology savings totaling $37 million. These savings will be realized in areas related to travel, equipment, consultant contracts, and cost savings due to a new and more efficient method of processing interagency agreements.

Preventetive Health and Services Block Grant

The Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant has provided 61 States, tribes, and territories with flexible funding to support primary prevention activities and health services. Funding, however, is flexible and may overlap with other categorical funding and it is difficult to track and measure impact. The FY 2007 budget eliminates Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant, but provides States the flexibility to use a portion of existing CDC State categorical funding to continue their support of prevention and health promotion activities. This added flexibility maintains the accountability of the categorical programs, while giving States the tools they need to address their specific public health priorities.

Modern and Secure Laboratories and Facilities

Since 2001, CDC has initiated or completed the construction of more than 2.7 million square feet of laboratory and other facility space. The FY 2007 request includes approximately $30 million for nationwide repairs and improvements of existing facilities. This reduction reflects a Department-wide focus on finishing projects near completion and maintaining existing facilities.

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), managed as part of CDC, is the lead agency responsible for public health activities related to Superfund sites. The FY 2007 request for ATSDR is $75 million. ATSDR develops profiles of the health effects of hazardous substances, assesses health hazards at specific Superfund sites, and provides consultations to prevent or reduce exposure and related illnesses.

The sharply declining trends in perinatal AIDS cases since the 1990's reflect the public health impact achieved through CDC's HIV/AIDS program. CDC has worked to decrease the number of new perinatally acquired AIDS cases from the 235 cases in 1998 to 48 cases in 2005.

CDC has provided pregnant women who are HIV-infected the opportunity to reduce the risk of transmission to their infants and provided them the opportunity to receive life-saving treatments through:

routine prenatal HIV testing,
guidance for using rapid tests during labor and delivery or immediately post-partum, and
the integration of routine prenatal testing into medical practice.

In FY 2007 CDC expects to continue to achieve low levels of perinatally acquired AIDS, exceeding its goal of less than 100 new cases each year.

FY 2007 Budget in Brief Home

Last revised: February 20, 2006

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