House Appropriations Committee Takes Key Step to Fund CDC’s Tobacco Control Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Appropriations Committee has taken a key step to protect public health by including level funding of $246.5 million for the CDC’s tobacco prevention and control program in the FY 2027 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. The Committee’s action demonstrates the strong, bipartisan support for the CDC’s tobacco control program. This program has played a critical role in driving down smoking rates in the U.S. among both youth and adults, helping to save millions of lives and billions in healthcare costs. Its work is essential to continued progress.

We urge the Senate Appropriations Committee to also fully fund the CDC’s tobacco control program and restore proposed cuts to other critical public health programs at the CDC that are included in the House Appropriations bill. Congress must also ensure that the funds are spent as intended on evidence-based tobacco prevention and cessation strategies, and that CDC has adequate staff to effectively implement these strategies. Failure to collectively take these steps would benefit the tobacco industry at the expense of kids and lives. 

The Committee’s action recognizes that the fight against tobacco use must remain a national priority and that the CDC plays an essential leadership role in this effort. Tobacco remains the number one cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, killing nearly half a million Americans every year and costing over $241 billion in annual healthcare expenditures, more than 60% of which is paid by taxpayers through government programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Smoking is a primary driver of chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, COPD and diabetes. 

For decades, the CDC has played a leading role in the nation’s efforts to address tobacco use. The CDC tobacco control program is the only dedicated source of federal funding for state tobacco prevention and cessation programs. It has also provided critical support for quitlines and other services to help people quit smoking, including the Tips from Former Smokers public education campaign that has helped more than one million people quit and saved an estimated $7.3 billion in health care costs. 

By continuing to fund CDC’s tobacco control program, Congress can protect kids, save lives and save money for taxpayers.