CDC Science on the Hill: CDC Washington

When a member of Congress wants to know why cases of West Nile virus are increasing in her state or how to respond to her constituent’s questions about autism, she calls CDC Washington, the arm of the CDC Director’s Office stationed in Washington, D.C. Likewise, CDC leadership and scientists rely on CDC Washington to make sure priority CDC messages are heard by policymakers. This group’s primary responsibilities are educating Congress about CDC’s unique capabilities, needs and accomplishments; responding to Congressional requests for information about public health issues and legislation; and identifying opportunities for collaboration with other federal agencies and organizations in Washington.

CDC Washington is composed of 17 staffers, who collaborate with a group of approximately 20 additional Washington-based CDC employees who represent other specialized units within CDC. Some work in the offices with CDC Washington staffers, while others are assigned to various federal agencies and other partner organizations or serve on assignment with Congressional offices. This extended network of Washington-based CDCers helps forge ties between CDC and other government and nonprofit partners and helps apply CDC science and public health research to federal policies and initiatives.

Ed Hunter, deputy director of CDC Washington, cites policy interventions such as seat belt laws and blood alcohol level limits as examples of how working with Congress or another federal agency, like the Department of Transportation, can dramatically improve public health.

Did You Know?

CDC is the only major federal agency not headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area. The Communicable Disease Center, as CDC was first known, stemmed from Malaria Control in War Areas, and much of CDC’s early work continued to be concentrated on the eradication of malaria in the United States. Because malaria was more prevalent in the southern U.S., CDC’s headquarters were established in Atlanta as opposed to Washington D.C.

The Communicable Disease Center, as CDC was first known, was established in 1946 and was located on the sixth floor of the Volunteer Building on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta. The agency had 369 employees focused primarily on controlling malaria in the U.S. Key jobs were in entomology and engineering; only seven medical officers were on duty.

“The federal government has such a wide reach into several sectors of society and the ability to pull a lot of levers to improve health,” says Hunter. “Our office tries to advance health in as many places as we can. Not only by reinforcing the importance of supporting CDC, but also by encouraging others to take advantage of the science and recommendations CDC can provide to them in their own areas of influence.”

As another example, Hunter points to a recent Medicare regulation that mandates that residents of long-term care facilities be immunized against influenza. “CDC is not immunizing or paying for immunizations,” says Hunter. “But an entire group of individuals can now be protected against a potentially life-threatening illness. The mandate from the federal level is an effective counterpoint to CDC’s work with partners on a state-by-state or facility-by-facility basis.”

Hunter, CDC Washington Director Donald Shriber and the team at CDC Washington strive to be responsive to Congress, building positive relationships for CDC and managing complex Congressional investigations to protect CDC’s core mission. On the proactive front, the team works to keep their fingers on the pulse of the Washington policy community —to be ready to take advantage of opportunities to advance CDC and its science on the Hill.

“CDC has a lot to contribute in discussions of health policy as well as policy in other sectors that affect health, and we need to be working to have answers ready when needed,” says Hunter. “For example, we have to project ahead to what things might be on the policy agenda of a new administration. If there’s going to be a rethinking of policy related to housing, education or transportation —not to mention a reform of the nation’s health system —what do we have that we can insert into that conversation? The more we know about where the policy discussion might be going, and the more information we have ready to plug in, the better.”

CDC Foundation Hosts “A Day at the Capitol”

The CDC Foundation recently hosted a group of CDC Foundation National Advocates and their guests in Washington D.C. to learn more about the CDC Washington office and CDC’s activities in the nation’s capital. Approximately 40 guests attended the event, which included presentations from CDC Washington staff on the changing role of health diplomacy in U.S. foreign relations and new opportunities for controlling global health threats, as well as welcoming remarks from U.S. Representative Phil Gingrey and a keynote address on health system transformation from CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding.

“The day in Washington provided a unique opportunity for the Foundation’s National Advocacy Council to learn more about the important work of the CDC and the CDC Foundation,” says Marnite Calder, a CDC Foundation National Advocate who was a guest at the event. “It was especially educational to meet with and learn about public health issues from CDC Washington staff’s point of view and to hear Dr. Gerberding’s remarks on health system transformation.”