Legislative Resources

In November 2020 NACCHO's Board of Directors approved the 2021 Legislative and Policy Agenda:

In 2021, NACCHO will:

• Ensure substantial investments in the governmental public health system reaches communities, as well as funding designated specifically for local health departments.
• Support the vital role of public health guidance in the face of increased politicization.
• Rebuild and sustain the governmental public health system by supporting continuous, mandatory funding to support public health infrastructure and workforce.

NACCHO has compiled a list of newly elected Members of Congress who will join the 117th Congress in January 2021.

In addition, NACCHO has developed a set of recommendations for the Biden-Harris administration and the 117th Congress.

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

HSH Talking Points can be found here.

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.