This came in after the "action deadline", but I think it's still useful for "consumers" of NIOSH services to be aware of... - Ralph Date: Mon, 22 Nov 2004 07:59:19 -0800 From: Gordon MillerSubject: [lhsc-list] Fwd: NIOSH Reorganization Continued ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Sharon Morris Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 9:38 AM Subject: Urgent Action Needed Before Saturday to Save NIOSH Despite the strong Senate language and bipartisan support for NIOSH, Dr. Julie Gerberding as moved forward to bring NIOSH in line with her "business model" for running CDC. NIOSH no longer has control of its own budget, communications staff, or printing authority. The NIOSH 1-800 information number will soon be moved to Atlanta, where it will be answered by contractors with no direct knowledge of occupational safety and health. Dr. Gerberding is hiring chief management officers for each of the new coordinating centers, who will control the budgets. She specifically said she didn't want anyone "encumbered" by a public health background, so with one exception they come from industry or other agencies. The chief management officer for NIOSH and the other programs in the new Environmental, Occupational Health and Injury Prevention Center is from NASA. The CDC exhibit at APHA was a preview of things to come. There was no separate booth for NIOSH or any of the other components of CDC. The booth, which cost $99,950, with an additional reported charge of $40,000 to buy the space, was mainly about promoting CDC as a whole and had little information on the individual programs. The information that was there was difficult to find because it was organized by life stages. The House and Senate conferees on the appropriations bill are schedule to meet THIS Saturday, November 20. The best chance of turning this around is to get the House to support the Senate language in S. Rept. No. 108-345: "The Committee expects CDC to ensure that the ongoing CDC reorganization does not impede nor diminish NIOSH's ability to meet its statutory responsibilities to protect the safety and health of America's workers. The Committee believes that NIOSH must have the stature necessary to work effectively with OSHA, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services in the manner described by statute. Therefore the Committee directs the CDC to maintain the status quo with respect to the direct reporting relationship of the NIOSH director to the CDC director. (1 ) make no changes to NIOSH's current operating procedures and organizational structure and (2) ensure that no funds or personnel will be transferred from NIOSH to other components of CDC by means other than traditional reprogramming of funds." The chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee is Ralph Regula, OH and the ranking minority is David Obey, WI. The Republican members are Istook (OK), Northup (KY), Wicker (MS), Cunningham (CA), Granger (TX), Peterson (PA), Sherwood (PA), Weldon (FL), Simpson (ID), Young (FL), ex officio. The Democrats are Hoyer (MD), Lowey (NY), DeLauro (CT), Jackson (IL), Kennedy (RI), Roybal-Allard (CA). I would recommend that you contact your representative if you are in one of the states above. Otherwise, Craig Higgins, Regula's staff person on the committee, is a good person to contact. The subcommittee phone number is 202-225-3508. Any contacts with them will have to be by phone, fax, or e-mail, as it's way too late for letters. -- Sharon L. Morris Senior Lecturer and Assistant Chair for Community Outreach Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100 Seattle, WA 98105-6099 Phone: 206-543-9540 Fax: 206-685-3872
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