Letters to Congress and federal agencies

September 2020

Organization letter to Congress requesting that the Global Child Thrive Act be included in the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act bills (Sept. 24)
Organization letter to USDA requesting an extension of nutrition waivers through June 2021 to ensure access to healthy meals (Sept. 21)
Organization letter to Vice President Pence requesting a reversal of the change in CDC testing guidelines for asymptomatic individuals who were exposed to COVID-19 (Sept. 3)

August 2020

Organizational letter in support of H.R. 8067, legislation that would provide funding to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality on the most critical health system issues in responding to COVID-19 (August 19)

July 2020

Organization letter to Congress urging an extension of waivers through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (July 31)
Organization letter to House and Senate leaders urging investments in public health infrastructure and clean energy and clean transportation initiatives in future COVID-19 recovery stimulus legislation (July 21)
Organization letter to senior administration officials urging the administration to immediately reverse its decision to bypass the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the collection and analysis of COVID-19 patient data (July 17)
Organization letter to Vice President Pence urging the administration to adhere to sound scientific and public health guidance from the experts to ensure the best response to and successful recovery from the COVID-19 crisis (July 15)
Organizational letter to HHS Secretary Azar in support of renewing the Public Health Emergency Declaration before its expiration (July 10)
Organizational letter to Congress in support of H.R. 7286, the Quit Because of COVID-19 Act (July 10)
Organizational letter to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee urging consideration of S. 2715, the Global Child Thrive Act (July 10)
Letter from APHA to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee expressing opposition to S. 696/H.R. 1597, the National Nurse Act (July 10)
Organizational letter to the House Appropriations Committee urging opposition to any provisions in the FY21 Agriculture bill that would weaken FDA’s authority over regulation of tobacco products (July 7)
Organization letter to House and Senate leaders urging a significant, long-term investment in public health infrastructure in future legislation to speed the response to the COVID-19 pandemic (July 2)
Organization letter to HHS Secretary Azar urging him to affirm the invaluable role of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and resist any efforts that would undermine its mission (July 1)

June 2020

Organization letter in support of the Motor Vehicle Safety title and other pro-safety provisions in the Moving Forward Act (June 29)
Organization letter in support of the INVEST in America Act, transportation reauthorization legislation that improves transportation safety and accessibility for people bicycling, walking, rolling, and taking transit (June 29)
Organization letter to congressional leaders in support of legislation to increase COVID-19 testing to address the needs of our most vulnerable communities (June 26)
Organization letters to House and Senate leaders in support of including public health workforce loan repayment legislation in the next COVID-19 legislative package (June 26)
APHA letter to the U.S. House of Representatives in support of H.R. 1425, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act (June 26)
APHA letter to Congress in support of H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 (June 23)
Health organization letter to HHS Secretary Azar urging the administration to renew the current public health emergency declaration for at least an additional 90 days before it expires (June 23)
Organizational letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees in support of $310 million in funding for historically black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions to strengthen their allied health professions training programs (June 22)
Organizational letter urging Congress to fully fund the World Health Organization in fiscal year 2021 and reject the Trump administration’s plans to cut U.S. funding to the WHO (June 18)
Organizational letter to Congress urging an increase to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program minimum and maximum benefits and a suspension of SNAP rules that decrease eligibility (June 18)
Organizational statement describing the need for global solidarity in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and condemning the United States’ dangerous decision to terminate relations with the World Health Organization (June 11)
Organization letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders in support of the creation of a Health Defense Operations budget designation to increase investments in public health and pandemic preparedness (June 9)
Organizational letter opposing the decision to cut U.S funding to the World Health Organization and recognizing the important role the WHO and its workers play in responding to global health challenges such as COVID-19 (June 3)
Organization letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture requesting an extension of child nutrition waivers through September to support access to nutrition services for communities affected by COVID-19 (June 2)
Organization letter to congressional leaders outlining funding priorities as the U.S. begins to prepare for the allocation, distribution and administration of a new COVID-19 pandemic vaccine (June 1)

May 2020

Organization letter thanking Senate sponsors of the Strengthening the Public Health Workforce Act (May 26)
Organization letter to congressional leaders urging that funding for active transportation programs, including the Transportation Alternatives Program, be prioritized in any future economic stimulus legislation (May 21)
Organization letter to administration leaders opposing the issuance of the final HHS Nondiscrimination in Health and Health Education Programs and Activities rule which would weaken existing nondiscrimination protections in health programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance (May 20)
Organizational letter urging Congress to include H.R. 6561, the Improving Social Determinants of Health Act of 2020, in the next COVID-19 legislative response package (May 18)
Organizational letter to Congress in support of increasing US funding to United Nations accounts and lifting the spending cap imposed on contributions to the UN (May 15)
Organization letter to House and Senate leaders supporting the inclusion of the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program in the HEROES Act and recommending its inclusion in emergency COVID-19 legislation with funding appropriated for FY 2020 and FY 2021 (May 14)
Organization letter to Congress in support of including $100 million for the Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies program in the next COVID-19 legislative response package (May 7)
Organization letter urging members of Congress to co-sponsor the Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act, which would provide $100 billion in emergency rental and housing assistance to individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic (May 6)
Organization letter to House and Senate leaders of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittees in support of increased funding for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in FY 2021 (May 5)
Organization letter to Congress in support of $10 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to protect and support breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic (May 5)
Organization letter to Congress requesting that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients be allowed to maintain DACA work authorization during the COVID-19 pandemic (May 4)
Organization letter to Congress and to the Department of Health and Human Services calling for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to update the COVID-19 surveillance system to collect data on race, ethnicity, sex, age, primary language, sexual orientation, disability status, gender identity and socioeconomic status (May 4)

April 2020

Organization letter urging Congress to pass the COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act of 2020 (April 29)
Organization letter urging members of Congress to cosponsor H.R. 6637, the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2020 (April 27)
Organization letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging adequate funding and support for school nutrition programs to combat food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 27)
Letter from more than 1,000 organizations and individuals urging the Trump administration to reverse course and continue funding the World Health Organization (April 24)
Organization letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration urging the release of information regarding pre-market applications for tobacco products subject to the American Academy of Pediatrics, et al. v. FDA district court ruling (April 23)
Organization letter to Congress in support of ensuring access to affordable health insurance, adequate financial support for states, localities, territories and tribes, providing worker protection and other provisions key to protecting families during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 23)
Endorsing organization fact sheet on H.R. 6561, the Improving Social Determinants of Health Act of 2020 (April 21)
Organization letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders in support of significantly boosting the allocation for the Labor-HHS-Education bill for FY 2021 (April 16)
Organization letter to Congress in support of bolstering school meal and nutrition programs that are on the frontline of ensuring access to healthy food for communities during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 16)
Organization letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders urging increased FY 2021 funding for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (April 16)
Organization letter to Congress in support of investing in safety net providers that provide maternal and child health services, STI testing and other essential care during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 10)
Organization letter to Congress in support of increasing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 8)
Organization letter to congressional leaders supporting the inclusion of the Vaccine Awareness Campaign to Champion Immunization Nationally and Enhance Safety (VACCINES) Act of 2019, in the next legislative vehicle to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic (April 7)
APHA letter to congressional leaders in support of additional funding and other measures to protect the public's health and economic security in future COVID-19 relief legislation (April 7)
Organization letter to House and Senate leaders urging a significant, long-term investment in public health infrastructure in future legislation to speed the response to the COVID-19 pandemic (April 3)
Organization fact sheet supporting funding for a loan repayment program for public health professionals who agree to serve two years in a local, state, or tribal health department (April 3)
Organization letter to House Labor-HHS-Education appropriations subcommittee leaders urging $100 million in FY 2021 for Public Health Data/IT Systems Modernization within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (April 3)
Organization letter to the administration urging action to alleviate the critical shortage across the nation of ventilators and personal protective equipment resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic (April 3)
Organization letter to Congress in support of actions to protect the food system and food workers during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 1)

March 2020

Organization letter to the administration urging maintaining public health guided distancing efforts nationwide to prevent COVID-19 infections until medical evidence indicates it is safe to relax them (March 30)
Organization letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders in support of a total of $50 million in FY 2021 funding for CDC and NIH to conduct public health research into firearm morbidity and mortality prevention (March 30)
Organization letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders requesting a nonpartisan, high-level, comprehensive review of the COVID-19 response once the immediate public health emergency subsides (March 30)
Organization letter to Congress and administration officials with recommendations to protect the health of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 27)
Organization letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture requesting additional nutrition waivers to support individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (March 25)
Organization letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders urging increased FY 2021 funding for CDC’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement and ASPR’s Hospital Preparedness Program (March 25)
Organization letter to Congress opposing a provision in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which would exclude nonprofit clinics that receive Medicaid reimbursement from receiving stimulus loans during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 24)
Organization letter to Congress in support of a minimum of $40 million for the Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies program in FY 2021 (March 24)
Organization letter to Congress in support of increasing federal Medicaid matching funds and direct aid to states during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 23)
Organization letter to Congress in support of the PAID Leave Act (March 20)
Organization letter to Senate leaders urging a significant, long-term investment in public health infrastructure in future legislation to speed the response to the COVID-19 pandemic (March 20)
NACCHO, APHA and TFAH letter to Senate leaders opposing a provision in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which would remove the CDC from collaboration with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response on the management of the Strategic National Stockpile (March 20)
Organization letter to the vice president and congressional leaders in support of additional actions to address current and future mental health and substance use needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic (March 20)
Nonprofit organization letter to Congress with recommendations for assistance to help the nonprofit sector stay engaged serving the American people during the COVID-19 outbreak (March 19)
Organization letter to the U.S. Department of Labor urging approval of a petition for an OSHA emergency temporary standard for infectious disease to address the COVID-19 pandemic (March 13)
Organization letter to Vice President Pence and congressional leaders regarding additional actions that are needed by the administration and Congress as the United States faces a sharp increase in community transmission of COVID-19. (March 13)
Organization letter to Congress in support of S. 3415/H.R. 6150, the Paid Sick Days for Public Health Emergencies and Personal and Family Care Act (March 11)
Health organization letter in support of $15 million for CDC's Climate and Health program in FY 2021 (March 9)
Organization letter in support of the Healthy Families Act (S. 840/H.R. 1784), legislation to create a national paid sick and safe days standard (March 5)
Health organization letter to the House and Senate urging that any legislation to address climate change maintain Clean Air Act authority to regulate greenhouse gases (March 2)
Health organization letter in support of S. 2754, the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 and HR. 5544, the American Innovation and Manufacturing Leadership Act of 2020, legislation to phase down the production of hydrofluorocarbons (March 2)
Public health and legal expert letter to Vice President Pence and other government leaders regarding principles and practices that should guide the efforts against COVID-19 in the U.S. (March 2)

February 2020

Health organization letter supporting increased funding for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Environmental Health in the FY 2021 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (Feb. 28)
Organization letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders urging adequate funding for a supplemental appropriations bill for the government's COVID-19 public health emergency response (Feb. 28)
Friends of HRSA letter to House and Senate Labor-HHS-Education appropriations subcommittee leaders in support of $8.8 billion for HRSA's discretionary programs in the FY 2021 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (Feb. 26)
CDC Coalition letter to House and Senate Labor-HHS-Education appropriations subcommittee leaders in support of $8.3 billion for CDC's programs in the FY 2021 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (Feb. 26)
Organization letter in opposition to Senate legislation to limit access to reproductive health care and exacerbate harmful and inaccurate rhetoric around the issue of abortion care (Feb. 24)
APHA letter the UN Secretary-General regarding attacks on health facilities in Syria (Feb. 19)
Organization letter to Sen. Tom Carper in support of the Clean Economy Act, legislation to achieve the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (Feb. 11)
Organization letter to congressional leaders in support of the Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020 (Feb. 7)
Organization letter to the U.S. House of Representatives in support of H.R. 2339, the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019 (Feb. 4)

January 2020

Organization letter urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to implement an influenza vaccination program for asylum-seekers and migrants who are in the custody of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency (Jan. 28)
Organization letter in support of S. 3170, the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (Jan. 24)
Organization letter in support of the Connecting America’s Active Transportation System Act (Jan. 23)
Letter to House Democratic leaders urging them to schedule a full House vote on H.R. 1603, the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act (Jan. 14)