Mariannette Miller-Meeks: “Again, let me say that the mission of the CDC should be to combat communicable diseases. As we saw during the COVID-19…”

“Again, let me say that the mission of the CDC should be to combat communicable diseases. As we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency lost part of its focus and has been distracted. There are multiple agencies that collect data on gun violence and also intervention strategy and research. I think that we can refocus the CDC on its true mission so that another 1 million American lives are not lost in the next pandemic. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, let me make one point. I am opposed to this amendment, obviously, because it is an absurd amendment. Firearm injury is the leading cause of death among children and teens aged 1 through 19. This is all about public health. Let us not turn it into a debate or a discussion on anything else. What this says to me is there really isn't a desire or the understanding of what we try to do to save the lives of teens, adults, veterans, or anything else that falls into the litany of amendments that we have seen here tonight that would put people's lives in danger and don't use the resources we have through this Labor-HHS bill that we have used on a bipartisan basis in prior years to save lives. This is one more example of how we believe that maybe the lives are not worth saving. Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks).…”