Washington, D.C. – House Energy and Commerce Committee member Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) today released a request for information (RFI) to health care industry stakeholders seeking insight to reform and improve the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed years of consistent failures within the CDC resulting in a lack of trust among Iowans and others across the nation,” said Representative Miller-Meeks, M.D. “It’s imperative the CDC can address public health threats, and, as it stands, it’s clear the agency is incapable of doing so. My hope is by engaging in a productive discussion we can work together to rebuild and restore trust in our nation’s preeminent public health agency.”

“The CDC has broken the American people’s trust after years of mismanagement, blatant errors, politicization, and sadly even deception. Our committee will continue to do the hard work necessary to achieve much needed reforms at the CDC, including adding crucial guardrails to ensure it returns to its core mission. The CDC needs further congressional direction, and we will need input from a variety of stakeholders and experts. I thank Dr. Miller Meeks for her leadership in this effort and welcome all to submit their feedback,” said House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA).

KEY RFI EXCERPT: “Politics aside, there is a near collective recognition that the CDC failed to execute its primary mission of ‘protect[ing] America from health, safety and security threats’ by ‘conduct[ing] critical science and provid[ing] health information that protects our nation against expensive and dangerous health threats, and respond[ing] when these arise.’ This included numerous core operational failures, as well as total lapses in reliable communication.”

[...]

“I am seeking specific guidance, feedback, and information from stakeholders in the public and private sectors on how best to reform, improve, and authorize the CDC and its programs to rebuild trust and ensure the agency is nimble in addressing public health threats.”

Text of the letter may be found here.

Responses are requested by April 23, 2023, and can be submitted to at CDC.Reform@mail.house.gov.