The undersigned members of the Friends of NCHS respectfully request $170 million in budget authority for the agency, $10 million more than FY 2016 and the president’s FY 2017 request. NCHS purchasing power is down considerably; current base funding remains below FY 2010 levels, adjusted for inflation, and the agency is unlikely to recover the roughly $25 million in supplemental Prevention and Public Health Fund dollars lost in 2013. The level we request will provide a down payment to help NCHS address increasing costs on the horizon associated with state and vendor contracts and other infrastructure challenges related to survey redesign and systems improvements that will require additional resources far beyond current levels. #GPAC2016#LettersandComments#NIH