Washington, D.C--The following is a statement from Rep. Eliot Engel –on the announcement that New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Tom Frieden has been named by President Obama to head the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“As a New Yorker and a Senior Member of the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I praise the selection of our very own Dr. Tom Frieden to lead the CDC. The New York City Health Commissioner since 2002, Frieden has championed many important health causes including the banning of smoking in bars and restaurants, the elimination of transfats in restaurants, and increased testing for HIV. He has been instrumental in reducing the amount of smokers in New York City – there are now 300,000 fewer smokers which will prevent thousands of people from developing potentially fatal diseases.

“Since I have worked in Congress for years on stronger global tuberculosis control, including securing 4 billion dollars for TB in the recent PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) reauthorization, I know Dr. Frieden's past experience in global infectious disease control will be an asset at the CDC. Prior to becoming New York City Health Commissioner, Dr. Frieden was a leading expert in tuberculosis control – first in India and then in New York City. In India, he was at the forefront in treating more than eight million people with tuberculosis and helped save over a million lives. In New York, he led efforts to stop the tuberculosis epidemic and as Director of the Bureau of Tuberculosis Control and Assistant Commissioner from 1992-1996, New York City reduced cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis by 80%.

“New York’s loss is our country’s gain as Dr. Frieden is a strong selection for this position. He will have a lot on his plate – first and foremost, will be managing the swine flu outbreak – but I am certain, based on his past performance, that he will achieve great success at the CDC.”