(REACTIVATED NOV 6, 2001)
Please call the White House and Congress and urge support for public health funding.
Pres. Bush: 202-456-1414
Congress (2 Sens, I Rep) 202-225-3121
(ask for the district where you are REGISTERED TO VOTE)
Keep your message short. A receptionist will record your call.
Your message:
- Support funding for public health: We need $1 billion for state and local public health departments IMMEDIATELY!!!!
- Don't take funds from health departments to build the drug stockpile
- Make public health a full partner in the Office of Homeland Security.
Backgrounder
PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR ROLE IN NATIONAL SECURITY
CALL THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS TO VOICE YOUR OPINION.
This week, two critical issues are under discussion in Washington in response to the events of Sept 11th and ongoing bioterrorist attacks:
- Funding for preparedness and response
- Organizing the new Office of Homeland Security
Funding: APHA supports a proposal to provide funding for state and local public health infrastructure programs such as workforce staffing and training, laboratory capacity, and surveillance and other information systems at state and local health departments.
The Administration proposes to increase spending for state and local public health programs by $300 million this year.
But state health departments tell us that just paying their bills for responding to immediate anthrax threats and actual exposures unfolding now will cost $250 million.
We need $1 billion for state and local public health departments immediately!!!
The Administration proposes $650 million this year for the National Pharmaceutical stockpile, more than twice the amount it proposes for state and local public health infrastructure. While the stockpile is important, its cost is driven by a single brand-name drug. There are ways to build an effective stockpile more cheaply, and these must be explored. The stockpile need not be funded at the expense of basic state and local public health capacity.
We support strong funding for state and local public health capacity.
These basic improvements will still be needed even if terrorist attacks stop.
Office of Homeland Security: The new office, headed by Tom Ridge, is intended to coordinate the efforts of dozens of agencies. For public health to best respond to national security concerns, we must be informed of potential health threats so we can mobilize our expertise in prevention. Without our voice in communicating health risks, public participation and confidence will be compromised. Public health must be strongly represented as lead partners in staffing this new office.