DeLauro Statement on Censorship at the CDC

WASHINGTON, DC (December 18, 2017) — Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement in response to reports that officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggested employees not use certain words—including "vulnerable," "entitlement," "diversity," "transgender," "fetus," "evidence-based" and "science-based"—in budget requests.

"The recent reports of censorship at our nation's health agencies are extremely troubling. It is essential that researchers and scientists have the freedom to follow evidence and facts wherever they lead and express their findings in whatever manner they find most accurate. Suggesting that certain words not be used for political purposes undermines public trust in our institutions and is completely improper. That is why I am calling on the Department of Health and Human Services to clarify any recent directives to the CDC, as well as other federal health agencies. Political appointees should not be censoring or interfering with the work that our scientists and public health experts do every day."