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The Honorable Tom Cole Chair U.S. House Committee on Appropriations 2207 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515	The Honorable Rosa DeLauro Ranking Member U.S. House Committee on Appropriations 2413 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Patty Murray Chair U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations 154 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510	The Honorable Susan Colllins Vice Chair U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations 413 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chair Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro, Chair Murray and Vice Chair Collins:

We, the undersigned professional societies and associations, academic institutions and companies representing a broad range of scientific, public health and clinical professionals, thank you for your past support of the Advanced Molecular Detection (AMD) program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Given the program’s increasing importance to our nation’s ability to detect and respond to infectious disease threats, we respectfully request that you provide the highest funding level possible for the AMD program as you finalize the Fiscal Year 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.  

The AMD program has brought cutting-edge genomic sequencing technology to the front lines of public health by harnessing the power of next generation sequencing and high-performance computing to study pathogens. The program played an indispensable role during the COVID-19 pandemic by leading genomic surveillance efforts and identifying emerging variants. Following the pandemic, AMD continues to provide new and expanded tools to detect disease faster, identify outbreaks sooner and protect people from emerging and evolving disease threats. In addition, the AMD program funds Pathogen Genomics Centers of Excellence in 5 states, forging partnerships between academic research institutions and state/local public health departments. These Centers identify local emerging health issues, such as multi-drug-resistant E. coli bacteria among household pets and understanding the epidemiology of H5N1 in cattle to provide up-to-date estimates of human infection risk.  

With increased base funding, the AMD program will continue to promote innovation, expand the laboratory and bioinformatics workforce and sustain the Pathogen Genomics Centers of Excellence. Funding for AMD will ensure that our public health system and research institutions can continue to benefit from rapidly evolving, cutting-edge science and technology. Increased funding would promote greater innovation through improved metagenomics, data integration and crosscutting genomics infrastructure, as well as expand workforce development to meet the needs of state and local health departments and streamline laboratory operations.    

Since 2014, the AMD program has employed next generation sequencing to bring the concept of precision medicine to bear for “precision public health.” We urge you to fully fund CDC’s Advanced Molecular Detection program at $175 million for FY2025, ensuring this vital work can continue now and into the future. We thank you for your consideration of our request.

Sincerely,

AdvaMedDx
American Medical Technologists
American Society for Clinical Pathology
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American Society for Virology
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine
Association for Molecular Pathology
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)
Association of American Medical Colleges
Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
Biophysical Society
Centivax, Inc.
Clear Labs
College of American Pathologists 
Global Health Technologies Coalition
Infectious Diseases Society of America
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
Trust for America’s Health