Earlier this week, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Majority released their bill text for the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Labor-HHS bill in advance of a subcommittee markup on June 27. As expected, the funding proposal makes significant cuts to health programs providing a discretionary total of $107 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is $8.5 billion (7%) below the FY24 enacted level and $14 billion below the President’s budget request. More details on policy riders included in the bill and specific funding direction will be made available by the Committee in the coming weeks. We’ve provided a high-level summary related to local health department priorities based on the bill text and documents provided by the Committee.

The bill would significantly reduce funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by $1.8 billion (22%) to $7.4 billion which is $2.3 billion less than the President’s budget request. According to details released by Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the proposal would zero out the budget for CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, and eliminate funding for important public health programs in including:

• Ending HIV Epidemic Initiative

• Rape Prevention

• Suicide Prevention

• Opioid Overdose Prevention and Surveillance

• Tobacco Prevention and Control

• Climate and Health program

• Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention Research

Topline funding amounts proposed for other CDC centers are in the chart below. Notably, the bill includes $360 million for Public Health Infrastructure and Capacity, which would be an increase of $10 million above the FY24 enacted level. These funds are a critical opportunity to strengthen the governmental public health system as a whole.

The bill includes $3.6 billion for Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), an increase of $3 million above the FY24 enacted level.

The bill also provides $48 billion to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is equal to the FY24 enacted level. However, the bill also proposes restructuring the agency, consolidating 27 centers into 15, mirroring an existing plan in the House Energy & Commerce Committee to change the agency’s structure due to a lack of trust among some conservative policymakers.

For the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the bill includes $7.4 billion which would be $647 million below FY24 levels, however this comparison excludes Community Project Funding included in the final FY24 enacted bill. The bill also includes $2.38 billion for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, which would be $190 million below FY24 levels. This would include elimination of funding for the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative as noted above.

The bill also would eliminate Title X family planning grants and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, both of which support local health department services, while providing $40 million to HHS to fund abstinence-only programs. It also includes policy riders, like the Hyde Amendment, which prevents federal funds from being used for abortion.

The accompanying Committee report language will provide additional details on funding levels for specific programs under the proposal, but it is not expected to be released until the full Appropriations Committee markup on July 10.

While the proposed cuts in the House version of the Labor-HHS bill are concerning, we are far from the FY25 finish line. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Murray stated her committee will begin markups on their versions of FY25 bills after the Fourth of July recess, and final funding negotiations between the chambers are not expected to ramp up until after the November elections. NACCHO Government Affairs will keep our membership updated and continue to advocate for the highest possible funding for public health programs throughout FY25 negotiations.

House Appropriations Labor-HHS-Education Bill Text

House Appropriations Labor-HHS-Education Bill Summary (Majority)

House Appropriations Labor-HHS-Education Bill Summary (Minority)

Health and Human Services (HHS)

House FY2025: $107 billion

Final FY2024: $115.5 billion

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

House FY2025: $7.4 billion

Final FY2024: $9.2 billion

Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)

House FY2025: $3.6 billion

Final FY2024: $3.3 billion

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

House FY2025: $913 million

Final FY2024: $1.43 billion

National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)

House FY2025: $94.6 million

Final FY2024: $191.9 million

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC)

House FY2025: $0 (funding eliminated)

Final FY2024: $761.4 million

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)

House FY2025: $237.4 million

Final FY2024: $237.4 million

National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)

House FY2025: $728.8 million

Final FY2024: $708.3 million

National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention

House FY2025: $1.2 billion

Final FY2024: $1.4 billion

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

House FY2025: $48 billion

Final FY2024: $48 billion

Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)

House FY2025: $500 million

Final FY2024: $1.5 billion

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

House FY2025: $7.4 billion

Final FY2024: $8 billion

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

House FY2025: $0 (funding eliminated)

Final FY2024: $369 million

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

House FY2025: $7.5 billion

Final FY2024: $7.4 billion