Us Congress House Bill HB1973

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/29/23
• Refer: 3/29/23
• Refer: 4/7/23

Caption

To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Buildings and Facilities for fiscal year 2024.

Impact

The bill's implications for state laws focus heavily on public health administration. With the CDC's operational budget curtailed, state health departments might experience a ripple effect, as reduced federal funding can lead to cuts at the state level. This could potentially undermine public health programs that rely on CDC support, particularly those aimed at disease prevention and health-related emergency responses. Discussions suggest that such limitations could destabilize existing health frameworks, especially in states that depend heavily on federal infrastructure spending.

Summary

House Bill 1973 seeks to impose a cap on the funding allocated for the Department of Health and Human Services, specifically targeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) buildings and facilities for the fiscal year 2024. The bill establishes that the total funding available for these operations may not exceed $30 million, which represents a significant limitation on financial resources that would typically be available for health infrastructure maintenance and public health initiatives. This cap could result in reduced operational capabilities for the CDC, especially in areas requiring extensive physical infrastructure support.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB 1973 include debates on governmental responsibility in managing public health crises, especially in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Opponents of the bill argue that limiting funding to the CDC contradicts the lessons learned during the pandemic, where adequate public health infrastructure was critical for effective responses. Proponents may assert that such fiscal discipline is necessary to reallocate resources more effectively, yet critics fear it could lead to insufficient health resources during emergencies, endangering community health outcomes.