Washington, D.C. – After working for months to protect a key Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lab in Fort Collins from drastic budget cuts that would have put nearly 100 jobs in peril, U.S. Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet today applauded the announcement that the Senate Appropriations Committee has included a request made by Udall and Bennet to prevent damaging cuts and restore resources for the Division of Vector-Borne Infections Diseases (DVBD) in FY2011. 

The division had been facing a 70 percent budget cut, which would have resulted in the loss of nearly 100 jobs, primarily in Colorado, and put its important public health efforts at risk.  In May, Udall and Bennet sent a letter to the leadership of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education requesting sustained funding for the division, citing the potential for job loss and the critical nature of the division’s work to the health of the public and national security.

“The CDC’s lab in Fort Collins is the front line of defense against a number of vector-borne diseases, and I was proud to work with Senator Bennet to prevent such drastic and risky budget cuts,” Senator Udall said.  “Making deep budget cuts at a lab doing such critical research doesn’t make sense, particularly while we’re still working to strengthen our economy and when globalization means that we face greater threats from infectious diseases.” 

“These draconian cuts would have put local jobs at risk at a time when we simply can’t afford to lose them,” said Bennet.  “We’ve fought—and fought hard—to ensure CDC isn’t forced to undergo painful and ill-advised budget cuts that would put both lives and livelihoods at unnecessary risk.”

Congresswoman Betsy Markey, who has taken the lead in the House of Representatives to restore CDC funding, said, "I applaud our Senators for their work fighting for these jobs.  This facility is critical to Northern Colorado and to our country, and I will continue to fight for these jobs in the House."

DVBD has aided in critical research, prevention and response efforts for diseases such as West Nile virus, Rift Valley hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever, dengue, and Japanese encephalitis.  These efforts have saved lives in communities across the United States and built goodwill towards the United States around the world, the Senators noted in their letter.

The full text of the Udall-Bennet letter follows:

May 14, 2010

The Honorable Tom Harkin, Chairman

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on

Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education

131 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Thad Cochran, Ranking Member

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on

Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education

156 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Cochran,

We are writing to request sustained funding for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases (DVBD).  This division serves as the CDC’s frontline for responding to outbreaks of viral and bacterial vector-borne diseases.  We believe it is critical to both the health of the public and to our national security and ask that you continue to fund the DVBD at necessary levels in order to maintain the CDC’s leadership in research, prevention and control of these diseases.

The DVBD is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado with a branch in San Juan, Puerto Rico and has an annual budget of approximately $39 million. The $26.7 million budget cut proposed in the President’s FY2011 budget request would severely shortchange an essential aspect of the CDC’s mission for the Division.  To date, funding for the DVBD has aided in critical research, prevention and response efforts for diseases such as West Nile virus, Rift Valley hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever, dengue, and Japanese encephalitis.  These efforts have saved lives in communities across the United States and built goodwill towards the United States around the world.

Additionally, the Division works closely with Colorado State University and numerous bioscience researchers and manufacturers in northern Colorado.  The Division also supports important work that has benefited the nation’s farming communities. Developing a novel DNA vaccine to prevent West Nile virus in horses and other animals is just one example that is worth noting. It has formed strong relationships with local businesses and academic institutions.  The loss of funding for this research would have a largely negative effect on the regional and state economy.

Again, we urge you to include funding at an appropriate level for the CDC’s Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases.

                                                            Sincerely,

 _____________________________                                _____________________________

                Michael F. Bennet                                                               Mark Udall

             United States Senator                                                      United States Senator