National Monkeypox Working Group urges Congress to provide $4.5B to meet critical MPV needs

September 12, 2022

Dear Chairs Leahy and DeLauro, Vice Chair Shelby, and Ranking Member Granger, 

 As nonpartisan national, state, and local public health and LGBTQ organizations, the undersigned members of the National Monkeypox Working Group write in full support of the White House’s additional request for $4.5 billion to meet the critical needs of monkeypox (MPV). We urge you to provide these funds to support the domestic and international response to the current MPV emergency and ensure the United States is prepared for future infectious disease outbreaks. 

America’s public health system is, once again, responding to a public health emergency without sufficient resources; and the severity of the MPV outbreak has further exacerbated the chronic problems that were exposed by COVID-19, caused by decades of underfunding. Recently, one sexual health clinic shared that they are as strained responding to MPV as they were in the early days of COVID: forced to do more with less but, this time forced to go it alone without federal support. 

It is possible to end this outbreak, but not without comprehensive support from Congress. The public health infrastructure needs sustained, predictable, and flexible funding. The longer we go without funding, the more people are exposed to this painful and dangerous disease and the more strain we put on America’s public health system. 

Given the current outbreak’s severity, the burden it has placed on our chronically underfunded public health system, and the unacceptable prevalence of racial/ethnic and environmental inequities, people and organizations working on the front lines need immediate federal support for testing, vaccine administration, treatment, clinical support, community outreach and education, coordinated surveillance, wrap-around services, financial assistance for patients in isolation, and research. 

As you begin to craft the Continuing Resolution to address the critical needs of MPV, we would appreciate your support in providing these additional funds not only to address the current monkeypox outbreak, but future infectious disease threats. Thank you for your consideration. For additional information, please reach out to the National Coalition of STD Directors’ director of federal policy, Rachel Deitch at r––––@ncsddc.org. 

Signed,

AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC)
AIDS United 
American Academy of HIV Medicine 
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
APLA Health 
Association of Immunization Managers 
Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs 
Association of Public Health Laboratories 
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials 
Big Cities Health Coalition 
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists 
Georgia AIDS Coalition 
HIV Medicine Association 
Human Rights Campaign 
Infectious Diseases Society of America 
NASTAD 
National Association of Community Health Centers 
National Association of County and City Health Officials 
National Coalition of STD Directors 
NMAC 
PCAF 
PrEP4All 
Ryan White Medical Providers Coalition 
Safer Together 
San Francisco Community Health Center 
The AIDS Institute 
Treatment Action Group 
Trust for America’s Health