WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) introduced a bipartisan resolution marking 75 years of lifesaving work from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. The CDC was founded in Atlanta as the Communicable Disease Center in order to prevent the spread of malaria. Since then, the CDC has helped establish Georgia’s Fifth District as a world leader in scientific research. 

“Since the founding of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC’s work has saved countless lives around the country and world,” said Congresswoman Williams. “Never has that work been more important than now, during the time of COVID-19. The American people have looked to the CDC for public health guidance during the pandemic and the CDC has served us exceptionally. I am proud to represent the CDC in Congress and ensure the CDC can continue its vital work.”

In April, Congresswoman Williams led a bipartisan House effort to secure $10 billion in funding for the CDC for the upcoming fiscal year. This request, joined by 76 members of Congress, advocated for $2.7 billion more in annual funding for CDC than was enacted for Fiscal Year 2021. In July, the House not only achieved this monumental increase in its appropriations legislation but exceeded it, passing a total CDC funding level of $10.6 billion.

Joining Congresswoman Williams in leading both the funding request and the resolution is Congressman Mike Levin (CA-49).

“The COVID-19 pandemic has sharply underscored the critical importance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said Congressman Levin. “The work of the dedicated CDC staff has saved countless lives in the last year and half alone, and their work to promote public health globally is necessary and admirable. From fighting malaria, to combating polio, to the ongoing work it is doing to fight COVID-19, CDC develops crucial, evidence-based recommendations that save lives. I’m proud to honor CDC’s work on the occasion of their 75th anniversary, and I’m delighted we were able to secure $10.6 billion for CDC in House-passed Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations legislation.”

Additional original cosponsors of the legislation include Reps. Lucy McBath (GA-06), Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon (PR-AL), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-07), and David Scott (GA-13) in the House, and Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) in the Senate.

The resolution is also supported by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Association on Health and Disability, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, American Mosquito Control Association, American Physical Therapy Association, American Public Health Association, American Society for Clinical Pathology, American Society for Microbiology, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, APIC – Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Association of Black Cardiologists, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Association of Public Health Laboratories, Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Big Cities Health Coalition, Coalition for Health Funding, Coalition of National Health Education Organizations, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Delta Mosquito & Vector Control District, Emory University, Endocrine Society, Entomological Society of America, Epilepsy Foundation, Eta Sigma Gamma, Georgians for a Healthy Future, Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, Hepatitis B Foundation, HIV Medicine Association, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Lakeshore Foundation, Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Disease, Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California, NASTAD, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), National Environmental Health Association, National Health Council, National Safety Council, Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, Pacific Southwest Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, Prevent Blindness, Prevent Blindness Georgia, Public Health Institute, Research! America, Safe States Alliance, SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators, Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), Southeastern Regional Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, Trust for America’s Health, Western Gulf Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases, and YMCA of the USA. 

“In 1947, Emory donated 15 acres alongside our campus for the CDC’s home in Atlanta,” said Gregory L. Fenves, President of Emory University. “Since then, this remarkable organization of scientists, researchers, and medical experts, has provided timely leadership and guidance to communities throughout the nation and around the world. I thank Rep. Williams and Sen. Ossoff for drafting this resolution to honor the CDC on their 75th anniversary. Emory is proud of our longstanding partnership with the CDC—in areas ranging from global health to preparedness response capabilities on the Clifton Corridor—and our university looks forward to working together for the next 75 years and beyond.”

“We thank Representative Williams and Senator Ossoff for recognizing the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention as well as the CDC’s hardworking public health professionals,” said Laura Colbert, Executive Director of Georgians for a Healthy Future. “The CDC is the backbone to our national, state, and local public health systems. Without its leadership and support, Georgia adults and children would suffer from higher rates of chronic diseases like asthma or diabetes, lower vaccination rates, and higher rates of tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases. The CDC provides invaluable resources to our communities to mitigate unhealthy water and housing and to fight the ongoing epidemics of HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, and addiction. All Georgians are better off because of the CDC’s important and often invisible work.” 

“Through its Vision Health Initiative, the CDC has helped protect Americans’ vision and eye health by supporting community-level chronic disease prevention efforts, conducting surveillance, and promoting vision health across the lifespan from childhood development to healthy aging. Prevent Blindness and Prevent Blindness Georgia applaud Congresswoman Williams and her colleagues in Congress for this recognition of the CDC’s legacy of 75 years safeguarding our national vision and eye health,” said Jill Shapiro Thornton, President and CEO of Prevent Blindness Georgia.

“The Safe States Alliance greatly appreciates Congresswoman Nikema Williams’ and Senator Ossoff’s leadership role in moving to recognize the 75th anniversary of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said Rich Hamburg, Executive Director of the Safe States Alliance. “In the midst of a global pandemic that has laid bare the impacts of racial inequality on our nation’s public health, it is only fitting that we take the time to recognize the crown jewel of our public health system and redouble our collective efforts to address racial inequality and advance a public health approach to the prevention of injuries and violence in communities across the country.”

“We congratulate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on 75 years of dedicated service to promoting and protecting health. From detecting disease and monitoring health threats to responding to health emergencies, CDC has been an extraordinary partner to our nation’s public health laboratories. APHL also extends special thanks to Congresswoman Nikema Williams and Senator Jon Ossoff for introducing this resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of CDC. The agency’s leadership is needed now more than ever as we continue our response to SARS-CoV-2 and other pressing health threats,” said Scott Becker, Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Public Health Laboratories.

“CDC is the centerpiece of our nation’s health promotion and disease prevention infrastructure. For the last 75 years CDC staff have dedicated their lives to keeping us safe from a range of serious health threats. They make sure the food is safe to eat, the water is safe to drink and the air is safe to breathe. The agency reduces the dangers posed by injury and environmental hazards, infectious agents and chronic diseases. CDC uses a science-based approach to access these threats and implement evidence-based solutions to protect us. The agency and its staff also work 24/7 to promote sound health strategies and eliminate health disparities. They do this to ensure we are healthy everywhere we live, learn, work, play and pray. The American Public Health Association is pleased to support this resolution honoring the 75th anniversary of the agency and its dedicated staff who work every day to help improve the health of our nation and the world,” said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association.

“For the past 75 years, state and territorial health leaders have consistently relied on the CDC for leadership, scientific expertise, technical assistance, and guidance on a wide range of issues related to communicable and non-communicable disease surveillance, epidemiologic issues with both communicable and non-communicable diseases, implementing public health programs, and supporting various public health infrastructure priorities,” said Michael Fraser, CEO of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. “The CDC’s ability to be proactive and responsive to providing science-driven guidance has been both impressive and critical to informing the COVID-19 response of public health departments. In addition, the professionalism of CDC staff is worthy of recognition and appreciation. ASTHO supports this Congressional resolution commemorating the work of CDC and we look forward to our continued work with the agency to advance health equity and optimal health for all.”

“The Coalition for Health Funding expresses our gratitude and support for the enormous contributions CDC made during the past 75 years, including the last 18 months during the COVID-19 pandemic, to improve the health and wellbeing of the public,” said Carolyn Mullen, President of the Coalition for Health Funding. “This Congressional resolution acknowledges the vital role of evidence-based public health guidance and the tireless efforts of the agency. We look forward to our continued partnership with CDC and working together to invent a future where all Americans are protected from the ravages of disease.”

“The Green & Healthy Homes Initiative honors all those at CDC who serve and have served in building the agency’s 75-year record of advancing public health, both here at home and worldwide,” said Ruth Ann Norton, President and CEO of the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative. “We are especially grateful for the CDC’s leadership in combating the scourge of childhood lead poisoning and its powerful advocacy for improving the nation’s housing stock in low-income communities as a key step to greater health and racial equity.” 

“The Society for Public Health Education salutes the CDC for 75 years of leadership in protecting the public’s health,” said Elaine Auld, Chief Executive Officer of the Society for Public Health Education. “We are especially indebted to CDC’s contributions to the scientific research, policy and practice that enables health education specialists to promote health equity and healthy communities across the globe.” 

“Since establishment in 1946, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have provided leadership in public health research and action,” said Emily Mader, Program Manager at the Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases. “The dedicated professionals at CDC support innovative approaches that advance our capacity to protect communities from existing and emerging threats both locally and internationally. On behalf of the Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, we applaud the 75 years of service by colleagues at the CDC to provide evidence-based guidance and recommendations on the prevention of illness and injury in our communities. We are honored to be collaborators with CDC in efforts to prevent the spread of mosquito- and tick-borne diseases.” 

“From its origins combating malaria, to the current research and outreach being led by the regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease, the CDC’s role in protecting Americans from mosquito- and tick-borne-diseases through management and education is critical in protecting public health,” said Michelle Smith, President of the Entomological Society of America. “As the current pandemic has reinforced, the CDC admirably serves the nation in many different times of crisis, and the Entomological Society of America is proud to join in recognizing the CDC on its milestone 75^th anniversary,” 

“The CDC is an essential agency that shares the National Safety Council mission to keep people safe, from the workplace to anyplace,” said Lorraine Martin, President & CEO, National Safety Council. “So many sectors of CDC bring value to our work, especially the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH has been the premier workplace safety and health researcher for decades and its employer guidance throughout the coronavirus pandemic only serves to reinforce its national importance. NSC is pleased to partner with the Georgia delegation to highlight the contributions of CDC.”

“The Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) is thrilled to support the House Resolution celebrating the 75th year anniversary of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said Truc Dever, President of MVCAC. “CDC staff work tirelessly to protect public health both in the U.S. and abroad and we are grateful for their efforts to build public health infrastructure to protect against mosquito and tick-borne diseases. Their partnership in preventing outbreaks of deadly diseases like West Nile virus, Zika, dengue, chikungunya and Lyme disease is critical, and we appreciate the opportunity to recognize CDC’s work to advance public health and protect all of our communities.”

“Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) celebrates CDC’s many achievements in its 75 years of existence,” said TFAH President and CEO Dr. J. Nadine Gracia. “CDC leadership and staff have worked tirelessly to carry out the critical mission of protecting and promoting the nation’s health. We look forward to the work the agency will accomplish in the years to come to promote health equity, protect our health security, and create thriving communities.”

“The National Health Council greatly appreciates the CDC’s important role in promoting public health over the past 75 years, including the prevention of chronic disease in the United States.” said Randall L. Rutta, Chief Executive Officer, National Health Council.

“For 75 years, the American Lung Association has stood shoulder to shoulder with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in our nation’s efforts to prevent, manage and end both infectious and chronic lung disease,” said Harold Wimmer, National President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “CDC remains at the core of our nation’s public health infrastructure – improving the lung health of our nation by working to prevent tobacco use, managing and reducing the burden of asthma, helping communities address the health impacts of climate change, and protecting the public from infectious diseases like tuberculosis, influenza, pneumonia and RSV. And in the past 18 months, during the tremendous challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC has not wavered in its dedication to providing trusted information for the health and safety of Americans.” 

“We join in the commemoration of CDC’s founding and support its continuing gold standard leadership in the world of public health,” said Dr. Chari Cohen, Senior Vice President of the Hepatitis B  Foundation.

“The YMCA Movement urges passage of this resolution recognizing the importance of CDC being vital to our nation’s health and well-being,” said Katie Adamson, Vice President of Health Partnerships and Policy of YMCA of the USA. “CDC is the Nation’s Prevention Agency, and the YMCA celebrates their leadership and our decades-long partnership with the agency to prevent and control chronic disease and injury and to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to reach their full health and human potential.”

 

Click here to read the full text of the resolution. 

CONTACT: PressGA05@mail.house.gov

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