[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 97 (Thursday, June 27, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1193-E1194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 27, 1996

  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call the attention of my 
colleagues to the many accomplishments of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention and to mark the occasion of its 50th 
anniversary, which will occur on July 1.
  In its earliest incarnation, CDC was known as the Malaria Control in 
War Areas [MCWA], and it was tasked with combatting malaria on military 
bases in the Southern United States. Over the years, CDC's mission and 
reach have expanded dramatically. Today, CDC is the Nation's prevention 
agency, responsible for the prevention of disease, disability, and 
injury. CDC focuses not only on combatting traditional communicable 
diseases, like malaria and syphilis, but also on preventing outbreaks 
of new and reemerging infectious diseases,

[[Page E1194]]

reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS, fighting breast and prostate 
cancer, and preventing lead poisoning in children. But CDC has not been 
satisfied only to defend America and the world against disease--it also 
has taken the offensive, promoting healthy behavior through smoking 
cessation, and immunization efforts.
  CDC has been faced with a host of challenges over the last half 
century, and the many scientists and public health professionals who 
make this relatively small agency a force to be reckoned with have 
never failed to rise to those challenges. Utilizing a technique for 
investigating disease outbreaks, ``Hot Zone'' author Richard Preston 
has called the marriage of great labs with shoe-leather disease 
detective work, CDC has taken on epidemics around the globe. The threat 
of emerging infectious diseases that our Nation and the world now face 
becomes somewhat less alarming when we remind ourselves of the 
unflagging courage and unfailing efforts of the devoted professionals 
at CDC who stand ready to fight back.
  I would like to commend CDC on its long record of achievement, which 
is outlined in a brief history of the agency prepared by CDC that I am 
including in the Record, and to thank the scientists, doctors, public 
health professionals, and staff of the CDC for all that you have done 
for us over the past 50 years. Thank you for the lives you have saved 
and for the good you have done for this Nation and the world.

      The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--50 Years of 
                            Accomplishments


                               the 1940's

     1946
       The Communicable Disease Center, or CDC, opens in the old 
     ``Office of Malaria Control in War Areas'' in downtown 
     Atlanta. Part of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS), the 
     CDC has a mission to work with state and local health 
     officials in the fight against malaria (that was still 
     prevalent in several Southern states), typhus, and other 
     communicable diseases.
     1947
       A token payment of $10 is made for 15 acres on Clifton Road 
     in Atlanta, the current home of CDC headquarters.


                               the 1950's

     1951
       The Epidemic Intelligence Services (EIS) is established. 
     EIS quickly becomes the Nation's--and the world's--response 
     team for a wide range of health emergencies. Its young, 
     energetic medical officers make house calls around the world.
       CDC broadens its focus to include polio and establishes 
     closer relationships with the states. National disease 
     surveillance systems begin.
     1955
       The Polio Surveillance Unit is established. Ten years 
     later, CDC assumes PHS responsibility for the control of 
     polio; the disease almost disappears from the Western 
     Hemisphere by 1991.
     1957
       The Influenza Surveillance Unit is established.


                               the 1960's

     1961
       CDC takes over publication of the Morbidity and Mortality 
     Weekly Report (MMWR), which publishes important public health 
     updates and data on deaths and certain diseases from every 
     state every week. The first cases of a new disease, later 
     called AIDS, were reported in the MMWR in 1981.
     1966
       CDC launches the Smallpox Eradication Program to eliminate 
     smallpox and to control measles in 20 African countries. 
     Through CDC's efforts, smallpox, a disease that killed 
     millions of people over the centuries, was eradicated from 
     the world in the late 1970s.
     1969
       CDC participates in the quarantine of astronauts returning 
     from the first walk on the moon, and the examination of moon 
     rock specimens.


                               the 1970's

     1970
       The Communicable Disease Center is renamed the Center for 
     Disease Control to reflect a broader mission in preventive 
     health.
     1973
       The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
     (NIOSH), which protects Americans from on-the-job hazards, 
     becomes part of CDC.
     1976
       CDC investigates an outbreak of illness in Philadelphia, 
     now called Legionnaire's disease. The following year, CDC 
     isolates the causative agent for this disease: Legionella 
     pneumophilia.
     1977
       The last case of endemic smallpox in the world is reported 
     in Somalia.
     1978
       CDC opens an expanded, maximum-containment laboratory to 
     handle viruses too dangerous to handle in an ordinary 
     laboratory.
     1979
       The last case of wild polio virus in the United States is 
     reported.


                               the 1980's

     1980
       The agency is renamed the Centers for Disease Control to 
     reflect a change in organizational structure.
     1981
       With the California Department of Health, CDC reports the 
     first cases of an illness later known as acquired 
     immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and organizes a task force 
     of personnel from each center to respond to evidence of an 
     epidemic. AIDS research and prevention efforts continue 
     today.
     1983
       CDC establishes a Violence Epidemiology Branch to apply 
     public health prevention strategies to the problems of child 
     abuse, homicide, and suicide.
     1986
       The Office of Smoking and Health, which targets the 
     Nation's primary preventable health problem, becomes part of 
     CDC.
     1987
       CDC reports a strong association between Reye syndrome and 
     aspirin, noting that 90% of cases could be prevented by 
     reducing aspirin treatment of children.
       The National Center for Health Statistics becomes part of 
     CDC.
     1988
       CDC establishes the Center for Chronic Disease Prevention 
     and Health Promotion to target chronic disease, such as heart 
     disease laboratory is established.
       A state-of-the-art viral and rickettsial disease laboratory 
     is established.
     1989
       CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) establish a 
     collaborating center for disaster preparedness.


                               the 1990's

     1991
       CDC begins development of a national strategic plan for the 
     early detection and control of breast and cervical cancers 
     among American women.
       CDC conducts the first and largest scale health survey to 
     employ computer-assisted interviewing.
       To better reflect the responsibilities and future goals of 
     CDC, the word ``National'' was added to the names of four 
     centers: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and 
     Health Promotion, National Center for Environmental Health, 
     National Center for Infectious Disease, National Center for 
     Prevention Services.
     1992
       The agency adds prevention to its name (Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention) to reflect a broader role and vision, 
     but retains the familiar acronym CDC.
     1993
       CDC launches the National Childhood Immunization campaign.
     1995
       CDC goes onsite to Zaire to investigate an outbreak of 
     deadly Ebola virus.
       CDC recommends AZT therapy for HIV-infected pregnant women 
     to reduce the rate of transmission of the Virus to their 
     babies.
     1996
       CDC celebrates 50 years of success as the Nation's 
     Prevention Agency.

                          ____________________