September 2015
Feature: Congress Spending Bills Threaten Public Health Infrastructure
Every year, Congress must pass bills that appropriate money for all discretionary government spending by the end of September. The House and Senate adjourned for their summer recess this year without sending any of the spending bills to President Obama. With only twelve working days scheduled in the month of September, Congress will likely have to pass a continuing resolution until the new spending bills can be agreed upon. A continuing resolution would prevent a government shut down by allowing funds to be appropriated as they had in the previous fiscal year for a designated period of time.
While bills from all sectors have an impact on public health, there are certain bills that will have a more immediate and direct impact on the state of public health. One of these is the labor-HHS-appropriations bill, which designates funding for public health infrastructure. The House version of the bill would increase the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) overall funding while cutting important programs within the agency, including the Climate and Health Program and the Environmental Health Tracking Program. It would also cut funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and eliminate all funding for the Title X family planning program and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). If passed, the Senate bill would cut overall funding for CDC, HRSA and AHRQ while also eliminating CDC's Partnerships to Improve Community Health and Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health Programs.
The American Public Health Association has issued statements opposing both House and Senate versions of the bill and is urging Congress to reappropriate funding to ensure the adequate support of public health programming. Take Action: urge Congress to prioritize public health funding by rewriting the labor-HHS-appropriations bill.
The Clean Power Plan aims to reduce carbon pollution from power plants by 32% by year 2030
Power plants are the largest source of carbon emissions in the world and are the largest contributors to climate change. Climate change is inextricably tied to public health because the harmful effects of climate change, including air pollution, have increased the cases of asthma, injury, and cardiovascular disease. The Clean Power Plan is projected to prevent 3,600 premature deaths in the United States, 90,000 asthma attacks among children, and 300,000 missed days of school and work.
The Clean Power Plan was initially proposed in 2014, but the final rule was added in August of 2015. The plan specifies standards for existing power plants, but states will have the ability to develop plans tailored to their specific needs.
Every year, Congress must pass bills that appropriate money for all discretionary government spending by the end of September. The House and Senate adjourned for their summer recess this year without sending any of the spending bills to President Obama. With only twelve working days scheduled in the month of September, Congress will likely have to pass a continuing resolution until the new spending bills can be agreed upon. A continuing resolution would prevent a government shut down by allowing funds to be appropriated as they had in the previous fiscal year for a designated period of time.
While bills from all sectors have an impact on public health, there are certain bills that will have a more immediate and direct impact on the state of public health. One of these is the labor-HHS-appropriations bill, which designates funding for public health infrastructure. The House version of the bill would increase the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) overall funding while cutting important programs within the agency, including the Climate and Health Program and the Environmental Health Tracking Program. It would also cut funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and eliminate all funding for the Title X family planning program and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). If passed, the Senate bill would cut overall funding for CDC, HRSA and AHRQ while also eliminating CDC's Partnerships to Improve Community Health and Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health Programs.
The American Public Health Association has issued statements opposing both House and Senate versions of the bill and is urging Congress to reappropriate funding to ensure the adequate support of public health programming. Take Action: urge Congress to prioritize public health funding by rewriting the labor-HHS-appropriations bill.
The Clean Power Plan aims to reduce carbon pollution from power plants by 32% by year 2030
Power plants are the largest source of carbon emissions in the world and are the largest contributors to climate change. Climate change is inextricably tied to public health because the harmful effects of climate change, including air pollution, have increased the cases of asthma, injury, and cardiovascular disease. The Clean Power Plan is projected to prevent 3,600 premature deaths in the United States, 90,000 asthma attacks among children, and 300,000 missed days of school and work.
The Clean Power Plan was initially proposed in 2014, but the final rule was added in August of 2015. The plan specifies standards for existing power plants, but states will have the ability to develop plans tailored to their specific needs.