Legislative Resources

In October 2019 NACCHO's Board of Directors approved the 2020 Legislative and Policy Agenda:

In 2020, NACCHO will:

• Bolster the public health workforce by enacting and implementing a loan repayment program for public health professionals who agree to serve two years in a local, state, or tribal health department.
• Advocate for raising the CDC budget by 22% by 2022, a $1.5 billion increase.
• Continue to be a strong partner in coalitions to push for public health priorities.

NACCHO's advocacy toolkit provides all the background information you need to engage with Members of Congress.

Here you can find information on the Congressional committees that are essential to crafting public health legislation and funding. Below are committees that authorize legislation and committees that authorize appropriations or spending levels for public health programs.

Appropriations Committees
House Appropriations Committee

• Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education Subcommittee
• Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration Subcommittee

Senate Appropriations Committee

• Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education Subcommittee
• Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration Subcommittee

Authorizing Committees (Health Jurisdiction)
House

• Energy and Commerce Committee (Medicaid, Medicare Part B and D discretionary public health programs)
  
• Health Subcommittee
• Ways and Means Committee (Medicare and healthcare financing)

Senate

• Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (discretionary public health issues)
• Finance Committee (Medicare/Medicaid)

• Summary of Public Health & Prevention Provisions in the Affordable Care Act
• Impact of 2016 Election on Affordable Care Act

Local health department officials are encouraged to contact their Members of Congress to educate them on issues surrounding public health. When health officials educate, advocate, or lobby Members of Congress on public health issues they need to be informed as to what exactly defines advocating, educating, and when they are lobbying. NACCHO has developed a fact sheet to identify the differences between advocacy, education, and lobbying.