The on Tuesday released a letter sent to Director Julie Gerberding seeking information about the agency's reorganization, financial management office, and handling of human tissue samples and laboratory equipment, the reports. Gerberding in June 2003 launched the reorganization effort, which has "contributed to controversy and turmoil within the agency," according to the Journal-Constitution. The letter -- signed by Reps.
Joe Barton (R-Texas), the committee's chair, and Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), chair of the committee's oversight and investigations subcommittee -- states, "Some CDC employees have raised concerns that these changes will make CDC more cumbersome and bureaucratic, taking time and resources away from scientific programs directly benefiting the public." In addition to requesting a copy of a draft report that in July identified problems with CDC's financial management office, the lawmakers requested a variety of information about the agency's activities, which have been under scrutiny by the and Rep.
Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), ranking member of on the . According to the letter, "The committee's oversight interest is to ensure that the CDC effectively manages its financial resources and its reorganization.
" The requested information concerning CDC's handling of tissue samples stems from problems discovered during a separate investigation of , which found that a senior NIH scientist had shared thousands of tissue samples with a pharmaceutical company, a House Energy and Commerce Committee release states. Barton and Whitfield have asked that the agency respond to the letter by Nov. 6.
CDC spokesperson Tom Skinner said the agency will cooperate with the committee's requests (Young, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 10/25). "Reprinted with permission from . You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at .
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