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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Injury Center) plays a vital role in promoting safety and wellbeing across the U.S. Unfortunately, robust funding for the Injury Center is at risk, and we all can take action to protect it. Learn how in this action alert.
Background
On July 10th, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) approved its Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) funding measure, calling for drastic cuts and restructuring of major health agencies. This includes a 22% cut to the CDC overall and the proposed elimination of CDC’s Injury Center. Eliminating the Injury Center would mean cutting $761 million in crucial programs such as: community violence prevention, firearm injury and mortality research, suicide prevention, sexual violence prevention, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) prevention, opioid overdose prevention, and so much more.
Fortunately, the Senate’s proposed LHHS FY25 Appropriations Bill, released August 1st, maintains (and slightly increases) funding for the Injury Center. It’s still important to galvanize strong support for injury and violence prevention funding before legislators finalize a FY25 appropriations measure, whether that be in September or after the election.
Members of Congress are back in their home districts for August recess, August 5th to September 8th, to meet and engage with constituents. Now is the ideal time to make your voice heard. If meeting with members of the U.S. House of Representatives or their staff, urge them to reject the proposed elimination of the Injury Center. If meeting with U.S. Senators or their staff, thank them for their ongoing support for the Injury Center.
See below for ways you can take action throughout August recess and for helpful talking points and resources.
AUGUST RECESS ACTIONS
- Contact your Representatives through Safe States' Advocacy Action Center to urge them to sign on in support of injury and violence prevention programs and reject harmful cuts that would imperil health, safety, and wellbeing in their districts.
- Attend a town hall meeting. Maximize your participation through Families USA’s August Recess Town Hall Tips & Tricks; Contact your Members of Congress (Senate and House) and request a list of events near you to find a town hall event. You’ll likely need to sign up to participate in advance. Come prepared with examples of injury and violence prevention successes in your community to clearly state why you oppose any eliminations or reductions in injury and violence prevention funding through the CDC.
- Request a meeting with your Members of Congress to educate them about injury and violence prevention efforts in your community. Families USA has developed a guide to setting up meetings with your members during the recess; Make sure to bring your community and organizational partners to the meeting to showcase a broad range of support.
- Respond to and create local news. Monitor your local news coverage and respond with a letter to the editor on any stories that are connected to the FY25 budget process. Create news by writing an op-ed, blog post, or issuing a press release to highlight the benefits of strong injury and violence funding in your community and the harms that would result if these funds and programs disappear.
TALKING POINTS & HELPFUL RESOURCES
- Everyone deserves to live, work, travel, and play in communities without the fear of injuries, violence, and the risk of substance misuse. Injuries and violence are the leading cause of death for children and adults aged 1 to 44, with a total economic cost of $4.2 trillion. Injuries and violence take form in many ways – from drug overdoses to community violence and youth drownings. Advancing a vision of healthy communities is not possible without robust funding to CDC’s Injury Center which funds proven and effective programs, including:
- The Injury Center operates the fastest, most comprehensive data systems for injuries and violence which are used to inform public health policies, guide prevention efforts, and support evidence-based decision-making by the entire country (including other federal agencies and state/local partners).
- Robust investment in the CDC and its diverse array of programming is vital to America’s safety and wellbeing. The Injury Center provides distinct primary prevention programming, research, and evaluation that is not duplicative to programs across other agencies, and the proposed cuts would effectively undo decades of progress toward a safe and healthy future.
Remember, these proposed cuts are not yet a reality. The actions you take during August Recess can help ensure that these cuts never happen.
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