For more information, please contact:
Eli Briggs, Senior Government Affairs Specialist
(ebriggs@naccho.org)
Donna Brown, JD, MPH, Government Affairs Counsel
(dbrown@naccho.org)
NACCHO Raises the Visibility of Local Public Health Programs
In the past month, NACCHO members and staff have been busy communicating with elected officials about the cuts proposed in the President’s budget and the need for increased federal investment in public health preparedness and disease prevention.
During the Public Health Preparedness Summit in February, NACCHO leaders and leaders of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) met jointly with key Congressional appropriations staff. The discussion centered on emergency preparedness and pandemic flu funding and the need for Congress to continue to build capacity at the local and state level.
State Associations of County and City Health Officials have communicated with 22 Members of Congress, urging them to support public health funding for emergency preparedness, pandemic influenza readiness, the preventive heath block grant and the public health workforce demonstration program. All NACCHO members who live or work in a district with a House Member on the Labor - Health and Human Services - Education (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee have received an action alert letting them know that their input is critical to achieving increased funding for public health programs.
NACCHO is highlighting four programs for increased funding in the FY 2008 appropriations process. Where applicable, we are asking for restoration of funding levels to those in effect in FY 2005. Since that time, funding available for these programs has steadily eroded. Our principal message is that predictable, sustainable funds are necessary to achieve long-term public health goals.
FY 2008 NACCHO request: $919 million - Public Health Preparedness – State and Local Capacity Building
FY 2007 funding: $824 million
In order to ensure the continued safety of this nation, Congress must continue its commitment to protecting America’s local communities by funding state and local capacity-building grants for public health preparedness at $919 million, the same level as FY 2005. In addition, the President’s Budget eliminates the Advanced Practice Center (APC) program, which funds eight local health departments to develop innovative ways of preparing all communities for an emergency. NACCHO recommends level funding of $5.4 million for the APC program.
FY 2008 NACCHO request: $250 million - State and Local Pandemic Influenza Preparedness
FY 2007 funding: 0
FY 2006 funding: $600 million
An influenza pandemic could cause thousands of deaths in the United States and severely disrupt our economy. Sustained funding of $250 million in FY 2008 to continue preparing for an influenza pandemic is necessary to ensure that local communities are ready to respond.
FY 2008 NACCHO request: $131 million - Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant
FY 2007 funding: $99 million
Local public health departments are leaders in efforts to stop preventable health threats from occurring. Obesity, heart attack and accidental injury are all examples of preventable health problems local health departments work on every day. The Preventive Health and Health Services (PHHS) block grant program should be restored to the FY 2005 level of $131 million to allow local and state public health departments to continue efforts to prevent chronic disease, as well as provide a flexible source of funds to meet unpredictable needs.
FY 2008 NACCHO request: $10 million - Public Health Workforce
In the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (S. 3678), passed in December 2006, Congress authorized the creation of demonstration projects to help produce a sustainable public health workforce. As the public health role has expanded to include greater involvement in emergency preparedness as well as more traditional public health activities, it is essential that there be an available workforce competent to carry out these tasks. We must act now to stem developing shortages due to an aging workforce.
NACCHO staff have held meetings with 12 members of the House and Senate LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee and participated in meetings with five members of the Senate and House Budget Committees with the Coalition for Health Funding. NACCHO staff also joined advocates for the Environmental Health Tracking Program in a meeting about that program with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) appropriations staff.
How can you get involved?
Congress will be in recess for the Easter holiday from April 2 to 13. This is an ideal time to schedule meetings with your Members of Congress. Contact information can be found on NACCHO’s website: http://capwiz.com/naccho/home/. You can look up your Members of Congress and contact their district office for an appointment, or invite them to visit your health department. A first hand look at what your health department does in your community can make a huge difference in communicating the value of public health at the federal level. Please contact Eli Briggs, NACCHO Government Affairs Specialist, at 202-783-5550 x229 or ebriggs@naccho.org with any questions.
NACCHO Members Support FDA Regulation of Tobacco
Senators Kennedy (D-MA) and Cornyn (R-TX) and Representatives Waxman (D-CA) and Davis (R-VA) have introduced legislation to allow regulation of tobacco by the Food and Drug Administration. More than 30 NACCHO members have contacted their Members of Congress to urge them to become co-sponsors of the legislation and NACCHO staff are participating actively in a broad coalition of public health organizations to build support for the bills. The Senate bill (S.625) is expected to be passed by the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in April. Go to NACCHO’s home page under “You Need to Know” (www.naccho.org) for guidance on how to take action on this issue.
***Remember to visit http://capwiz.com/naccho/home/ for all the latest legislative news from Washington.***
