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Destinations count
But it’s about the [J]ourney
Don’t stop believin’
The Rundown
- August recess arrives sooner than expected with appropriations work to come
- Committee update: CDC and public trust
- What’s up, NC delegation?
- The latest from our desks
- Join the Duke Health Advocacy Network!
Federal Updates
Recess is a state of mind
One of the best parts of the work we do is variety. Rarely do two days feel the same, and we know better to ever speak out loud of any stretches of time where things seem quieter or more routine in Washington, DC. This past week is the perfect example, because the fall we expected is going to look a little different. No matter the outcome in November, we have work to do. Today, next month, September, October, and in the final two months of the year. We may only gain a yard here and there at times – but we don’t take plays off. The whistle hasn’t blown yet.
However, Congress is taking an early timeout before the end of the half. After voting late Wednesday night to pass its version of the Interior and Environment spending bill for FY 2025, the House adjourned yesterday and will not return to session until September 9th. So far, even though the House Appropriations Committee has completed consideration of all 12 funding bills, the House itself has only passed five of them: Defense, Homeland Security, Interior, Military Construction/Veterans Affairs, and State and Foreign Operations. When the House returns in September, they are not expected to consider any additional full-year appropriations bills, and instead will focus on a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) to extend the deadline for government funding past Election Day. It is now possible they will cancel the previously scheduled session the week of September 23rd, meaning that they would be in recess again from September 20th until November 12th.
The Senate will be in session next week, with the Senate Appropriations Committee expecting to mark up or release text for their versions of several appropriations bills. But with the House’s focus turning to a CR, we can expect whatever comes from these bills to be pushed until later this fall.
Heard on the Hill
E&C Hears from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Various Leaders
On Tuesday, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled, “Are CDC's Priorities Restoring Public Trust and Improving the Health of the American People?” Witnesses for the hearing represented leadership from six of the CDC’s centers and offices, including: Office of Readiness and Response; National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; National Center for Injury Prevention and Control; National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases; National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; and Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance, and Technology.
At the hearing, Vice Chair Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN) delivered opening remarks on behalf of Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY), stating that he still believes the CDC is the preeminent organization in the world for the role it plays. However, he also questioned work around the agency’s mission. For example, he said that the CDC continues to seek additional data authorities, despite operating over 100 surveillance programs and skepticism around the authorities they already have, and Congress needs strong answers to justify why these authorities are needed.
Ranking Member Anna Eshoo (D-CA) highlighted the mismatch between federal public health investment and the public health needs in her opening statement, which was exacerbated during the pandemic. She noted Congress invested tens of billions of dollars into the CDC and local public health, but since then the budgets have been slashed. She said these “boom and bust” cycles where we overspend during an emergency and underspend to improve basic biosecurity tools leave data systems and our public health workforce fragile and unprepared. She also noted proposed cuts in the House funding bill for CDC to highlight this point. Continued support for CDC and the impact of cuts proposed to programs were echoed by the minority during the hearing.
Full Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) highlighted ways in which she feels the CDC lost public trust during the pandemic. Trust in CDC was a theme highlighted by the majority throughout the hearing, as well as questions about CDC’s mission, efficiency, and duplicative efforts.
Throughout the hearing, witnesses were asked about a range of topics, some specific to their offices/centers and others related to the CDC’s work on issues such as antimicrobial resistance, avian flu, preparedness, mental health, opioids, data modernization, diabetes, and preparedness.
What’s Up NC Delegation
Last week, President Biden signed into law the “Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2024,” co-led by Rep Alma Adams (D-NC-12). This bill expands the scope of the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant to include research and activities to prevent stillbirths. In a press release, Rep. Adams said that “we owe it to our mothers to reduce or remove the unnecessary risks that have made pregnancy unsafe…Thanks to the Stillbirth Prevention Act, we will address this injustice so more mothers and babies experience a healthy birth and make it home with their families. I am thankful to my colleagues in Congress, President Biden, and all the advocates for helping us make this legislation the law of the land.”
Rep. Don Davis (D-NC-01) announced the launch of the new bipartisan Congressional Working Dog Caucus. Co-chaired by Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), the Caucus aims to promote the positive impact of working dogs and support federal policies that advance their integration in law enforcement, military, and mental health spaces. Working dogs actively deter and respond to threats, assist first responders, and provide mental health support through their proven therapeutic benefits.
From our desk(s): Duke Health GR this week
Our office coordinated several meetings to discuss concerns regarding patients being switched off their ACA plans without their consent. Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC-02) and her office have been assisting with this issue, and this week legislation was introduced in the Senate to penalize insurance brokers who engage in this activity. Additionally, on Friday the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also announced new actions to address this issue.
This week, a member of our team joined Duke Health international nursing recruiting leadership in Washington, D.C. to advocate in support of legislation that would re-prioritize unused visas for healthcare professionals. The effort was part of a larger Healthcare Workforce Coalition lobby day, which also focused on garnering support for legislation to protect frontline workers from workplace violence (the SAVE Act) and from burnout (the Dr. Lorna Breen Reauthorization Act).
Our office continues to coordinate responses to multiple requests for information from Congress to inform policy development. Last week, our office coordinated and submitted a Duke Health-wide response to an RFI from Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) to inform the introduction of S. 4338, the Pay PCPs Act. We continue to work with Congress to ensure there is a fair and sustainable payment model for the physician workforce. In addition, our office coordinated a Duke Health response for Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN) on how Congress can bring about the next generation of treatments as part of their efforts to build on the 21st Century Cures initiative.
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