Values for America · Brief for congressional offices

To the office of U.S. Senator Raphael G. Warnock

Re: SRES 848 (119th Congress), A resolution celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the premier public health institute of the United States. · Latest action (2026-08-08): Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S4570-4571)
VFA SI Solution #242 · published 2026-08-10 · https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/242
Office of record (Congress.gov): 717 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510, Washington, DC · (202) 224-3643

Bipartisan Resolution Celebrating the CDC's 80th Anniversary While Reaffirming Federalism and Fiscal Restraint

The measure, as described from the official record: To honor the 80th anniversary of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and affirm its role as the leading federal public health agency.

The proposal

A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress on the 80th anniversary of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Section 1. Sense of Congress. It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the CDC has served the United States for 80 years by providing scientific expertise and coordinating responses to public health threats; (2) the primary responsibility for public health rests with State, Tribal, and local governments under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution; (3) the CDC should continue to operate within its enumerated powers under Article I, Section 8, and respect the limits of federal authority; (4) no additional funding is authorized or appropriated by this resolution; and (5) this resolution shall expire 5 years after its adoption, at which point Congress may consider renewing it. Section 2. Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect upon adoption.

Operative provisions (VFA proposal)

funding source: None (non-binding resolution, no funding authorized)
funding amount: 0
sunset years: 5 years
oversight body: None required
enforcement mechanism: None (sense of Congress)
effective date: Upon adoption

Constitutional basis

Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 (necessary and proper for expressing congressional sentiment)
Tenth Amendment (reserving public health primary role to states)

Why both sides can back it (VFA’s assessment)

Democratic priorities honored: affirms the CDC's value and federal role in public health coordination. Republican priorities honored: reaffirms Tenth Amendment limits on federal power, explicitly prohibits new spending, and includes a sunset clause to prevent perpetual congressional sentiment without review.

Values for America is a nonpartisan, constitution-first SI think tank. This brief is informational. It is a policy proposal, not law, and it does not support or oppose any candidate or party. Full analysis and sources: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/242 · Methodology: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/methodology