Regarding: CDC Letter Requesting Information on CDC Reorganization

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Capitol Hill Watch | House Committee Sends Letter Requesting Information on CDC

Daily Health Policy Report

Capitol Hill Watch | House Committee Sends Letter Requesting Information on CDC

Reorganization

[Oct 25, 2006]

The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday released a letter sent

to CDC Director Gerberding seeking information about the agency's

reorganization, financial management office, and handling of human tissue

samples and laboratory equipment, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Gerberding in June 2003 launched the reorganization effort, which has

" contributed to controversy and turmoil within the agency, " according to the

Journal-Constitution. The letter -- signed by Reps. Joe Barton (R-Texas), the

committee's chair, and Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), chair of the committee's oversight

and investigations subcommittee -- states, " Some CDC employees have raised

concerns that these changes will make CDC more cumbersome and bureaucratic,

taking time and resources away from scientific programs directly benefiting the

public. " In addition to requesting a copy of a draft report that in July

identified problems with CDC's financial management office, the lawmakers

requested a variety of information about the agency's activities, which have

been under scrutiny by the Senate Finance Committee and Rep. Henry Waxman

(D-Calif.), ranking member of on the House Government Reform Committee.

According to the letter, " The committee's oversight interest is to ensure that

the CDC effectively manages its financial resources and its reorganization. " The

requested information concerning CDC's handling of tissue samples stems from

problems discovered during a separate investigation of NIH, which found that a

senior NIH scientist had shared thousands of tissue samples with a

pharmaceutical company, a House Energy and Commerce Committee release states.

Barton and Whitfield have asked that the agency respond to the letter by Nov. 6.

CDC spokesperson Tom Skinner said the agency will cooperate with the committee's

requests (Young, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 10/25).

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3 & DR_ID=40657

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