This legislative alert provides an update on the latest FY25 continuing resolution.
The Senate released its version of the FY25 LHHS appropriation bill on August 1, 2024, with significant changes in proposed public health funding than the House's proposed bill.
March 2024 Federal Funding Update wic program, environmental protection agency, appropriation bills, food and drug administration, government affairs, government shutdown, synthetic nicotine, fiscal year, federal government, public health, house and senate, food and drug administration fda, tobacco free nicotine, synthetic nicotine products, spending levels, white house, government agency, spending bill, regulate tobacco products, astho, association of state and territorial health officials ASTHO | Congress must approve legislation to provide FY24 funding for a portion of the federal government. This week, Congress must approve legislation to provide FY24 funding for a portion of the federal government. Currently, the federal government is operating on a two-tiered continuing resolution. Funding for discretionary programs in the Agriculture Appropriation bill—Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and FDA—expires on March 8. On March 3, Congress released the legislative text of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, which proposes FY24 funding for six of the 12 appropriation bills. This package includes funding for EPA, the WIC program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and FDA, among other critical programs. Importantly, this legislation includes full funding for the WIC program, a priority for ASTHO and other public health organizations. Funding for HHS discretionary programs (NIH, CDC, HRSA, SAMHSA) expires on March 22. Legislative text proposing funding for these programs has not been released. Outlook Given bipartisan negotiations, ASTHO’s government affairs team believes this bill will be signed into law, avoiding a partial government shutdown on March 8. Additionally, text for the remaining six appropriation bills, including funding for HHS, is expected to be released later this week, with approval needed before March 22. According to media reports, this specific package of legislation will face a very difficult road to approval by Congress. Resources Bill Text Legislative summaries (Majority and Minority) Joint Explanatory Statement—Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 2024 Joint Explanatory Statement—Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 Joint Explanatory Statement—Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 Key Public Health Funding Highlights Agriculture Appropriation Bill $7.03 billion for the WIC program, an increase of $1.3 billion over FY23. This ensures the program is fully funded, and it increases funding for fruits and vegetables in the WIC Food Package to meet the President’s request. $122.4 billion ($3 billion to remain available through Sept. 30, 2026, for a contingency reserve) for SNAP, a decrease of $31.5 billion from FY23. $6.7 billion, level funding, for FDA. In addition, FDA is required to address drug and device shortages, among other critical priorities. Urges FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products to immediately remove any product containing synthetic nicotine from the market, regardless of whether such product is subject to the Premarket Tobacco Product Application process. Rescinds unspent COVID resources at FDA. Environmental Protection Agency This bill includes $9.2 billion for EPA, a reduction of $232 million. $4.4 billion for State and Tribal Assistance Grants. Within this amount, the bill includes $2.8 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds and $1.4 billion in Community Project Funding. Compact of Free Association Pages 960-1048 of the bill text include a section amending Compacts of Free Association, which is important for territorial ASTHO members. The government affairs team will review this provision and provide additional analysis to our territorial members in the upcoming weeks. Other Public Health Programs Extends funding for the following programs through December 31, 2024: Community Health Centers National Health Service Corps Teaching Health Centers that Operate graduate medical education programs Special Diabetes Program Authority for states and tribes to request temporary reassignment for federally funded personnel. website yes
In anticipation of a potential government shutdown on Oct. 1, 2023, HHS released an FY24 contingency plan.
Summary of FY24 Senate LHHS Appropriations Bill maternal and child health, substance use prevention, essential health care programs, mental health, healthcare access, human services, labor health, community health centers, capitol hill, healthcare workforce, public health threats, funding levels, public health infastructure, pandemic preparedness, maternal mortality, prescription drug, access to health care, health insurance plans, united states, substance use disorder, prevention programs, alcohol and other drug, mental illnesses, child health, maternal and child, young adults, substance misuse, evidence based, based programs, cover essential health benefits, mental health conditions, affordable care act, drug misuse, astho, association of state and territorial health officials ASTHO | The Senate LHHS appropriations committee has released its version of the FY24 appropriations bill. Get the latest in this Legislative Alert. On July 27, the Senate Labor Health and Human Services and Education (LHHS) appropriations committee successfully marked up its version of the FY24 LHHS appropriation bill. It is important to note that the proposed funding levels in this bill are higher than the levels that were included as part of the House LHHS appropriations subcommittee markup that occurred earlier this month. Please remember that the proposed funding levels within the bill are also subject to change, as both chambers are expected to engage in negotiations for a final bill before the end of the current federal fiscal year on September 30, 2023. The committee did release the legislative text of the bill, and ASTHO's government affairs team will be conducting a detailed analysis in the coming days. The summary below was provided to the committee. The Senate’s bill is considered to be a high watermark for funding when compared to the House LHHS subcommittee’s bill. There are considerable differences between both bills that will require reconciliation and negotiation on both sides. Outlook Both the Senate and House are scheduled to go on recess in August and are expected to be back on Capitol Hill in early September, with limited legislative days before the expiration of FY23 funding. While we are hopeful that Congress will pass a continuing resolution to fund the federal government past September 30, if final appropriations bills are not completed, the threat of a government shutdown cannot be ruled out. It is also important to again point to the real possibility of a 1% across-the-board cut if Congress is unable to pass all 12 appropriation bills prior to the end of the calendar year. ASTHO’s government affairs team will continue to advocate on behalf of state and territorial public health departments, encouraging Congress to increase funding for state and territorial public health priorities. The full committee summary is available for review. Excerpts from Committee Summary Protects Essential Health Care Programs The bill protects essential funding to address public health threats, improve health care access and affordability, and strengthen the health care workforce. This includes: $1.86 billion for Community Health Centers, including $55 million for school-based health centers. $1.4 billion for Health Professions Workforce Development. $1.2 billion for the core Maternal and Child Health programs. $341 million for the Improving Maternal Health Initiative to combat the unacceptable levels of maternal mortality. $4.1 billion for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid’s administrative needs. The bill also includes $350 million for Public Health Infrastructure and Capacity, maintaining the 75% increase secured in fiscal year 2023 to bolster public health infrastructure and rebuild the workforce at the state and local level to be ready to respond to emerging public health threats. The bill includes $616 million for the Ending HIV Epidemic Initiative, a $3 million increase, which provides high-need jurisdictions with prevention and treatment services for people at high risk for HIV transmission. This includes $223 million within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Domestic HIV/AIDS Prevention and Research programs to develop and deploy innovative data management solutions, increase access to PrEP, and better detect and respond to HIV clusters. The bill also protects funding for reproductive health programs such as Title X and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program. Pandemic Preparedness and Biodefense The bill includes $3.67 billion for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), including a $20 million increase for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and $75 million to establish a new program in manufacturing and production to ensure that critical resources including medical countermeasures and ancillary supplies are manufactured in the United States. It protects funding for critical programs, including the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), Project Bioshield, and the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS). Substance Use Prevention and Treatment The bill builds upon key investments made in fiscal year 2023 to address the rising toll of opioid overdoses fueled by fentanyl and improve access to substance use disorder treatment and prevention. The bill provides over $5 billion for opioid treatment and prevention, a more than $125 million increase over fiscal year 2023. This includes an additional: $40 million for the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant. $20 million for the State Opioid Response grants. $10 million for the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. $20 million for NIH opioid research programs. Mental Health The bill provides $35 million more for the Mental Health Block Grant over fiscal year 2023 and includes $172 million for the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program, a $19 million increase over fiscal year 2023, to expand community-based clinical training and for repayment of education loans for individuals working in either a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area or where the overdose death rate exceeds the national average. Additionally, the bill provides $400 million for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, a $15 million increase over fiscal year 2023, and an $18 million increase over fiscal year 2023 for the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline, building on the nearly $400 million increase in fiscal year 2023. The bill also includes over $100 million in investments within the Department of Education to address the shortage of school-based mental health professionals in our nation’s K-12 schools. website yes
Summary of FY24 House Appropriations Bill astho, association of state and territorial health officials, global health, ending the hiv epidemic, fy24 lhhs appropriation bill, substance abuse and mental health services administration, firearm injury and mortality prevention research, center for forecasting and analytics, agency for healthcare research and quality, public health data modernization, climate and health, public health infrastructure and capacity, government affairs, tobacco prevention and control, house labor health and human services and education, health resources and services administration, fy24 house appropriations bill, reducing new hiv infections, center for forecasting, funding opportunity, research and quality ahrq, health and human services, department of health, healthcare research and quality, agency for healthcare research, hiv aids, human services hhs, impacts of climate, gun violence, university of michigan, national institutes of health, ehe initiative, epidemic in the united, hiv prevention and treatment, real time, health effects, health impacts ASTHO | Learn about cuts to public health funding in the House Labor Health and Human Services and Education subcommittee's FY24 appropriations bill. On July 13, the House Labor Health and Human Services and Education (LHHS) appropriations subcommittee released its version of the FY24 LHHS appropriation bill and will mark up the legislation on July 14. The proposed funding levels included within the bill are subject to change as both chambers of Congress are expected to engage in negotiations before the expiration of the current fiscal year on September 30, 2023. It is important to note that the subcommittee has not released the report text, therefore ASTHO cannot complete a detailed analysis. The summary below was provided by the committee. Outlook: This bill is considered to be the low water mark for funding, compared to what the Senate is expected to propose. The Senate has yet to formally begin its work on the FY24 appropriations bills, but we expect that to occur in the coming weeks. As a reminder, any appropriations legislation must be approved on a bipartisan basis. The funding levels included in this bill are NOT final but rather are an indication of the priorities for the majority in the House. Given what is expected to be a contentious funding season, the likelihood of Congress approving a continuing resolution with a 1% across-the-board cut is extremely high and a government shutdown in October cannot be ruled out. The ASTHO government affairs team will continue to advocate on behalf of state and territorial public health departments, encouraging Congress to increase funding for state and territorial public health. The subcommittee draft text and summary are available for review. Excerpts from Subcommittee Funding Summary Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): The bill includes a total of $7.6 billion for CDC, a cut of $1.6 billion below the enacted level. The bill eliminates funding for Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention Research, a cut of $12.5 million below the enacted level. The bill eliminates funding for Tobacco Prevention and Control, a cut of $247 million below the enacted level. The bill eliminates funding for the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, a cut of $220 million below the enacted level. The bill includes $100 million for Public Health Infrastructure and Capacity, a cut of $250 million below the enacted level. The bill includes $75 million for Public Health Data Modernization, a cut of $100 million below the enacted level. The bill includes $371 million for Global Health, a cut of $322 million below the enacted level. The bill eliminates funding for the Climate and Health program, a cut of $10 million below the enacted level. The bill eliminates funding for the Center for Forecasting and Analytics, a cut of $50 million below the enacted level. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): The bill funds SAMHSA at $7.1 billion, a cut of $234 million below the enacted level. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): The bill includes $7.3 billion for HRSA, a cut of more than $700 million below the enacted level. (The comparison does not include Community Project Funding included in the FY 2023 enacted bill.) The bill eliminates funding for Title X Family Planning, a cut of $286 million below the enacted level. The bill includes $781 million for the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, a cut of $35 million below the enacted level. The bill eliminates funding for Healthy Start, a cut of $145 million below the enacted level. The bill eliminates funding for the Ending HIV Epidemic Initiative, a cut of $220 million below the enacted level. The bill eliminates funding for multiple programs to support diversity in the health care workforce, including: Health Careers Opportunity Program ($16 million) Centers of Excellence ($28 million) Nursing Workforce Diversity ($24 million) Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ): The bill eliminates funding for AHRQ, a cut of $374 million below the enacted level. Office of the Secretary—General Departmental Management (GDM): The bill includes $344 million for GDM, a cut of $258 million below the enacted level. The bill eliminates funding for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, a cut of $108 million below the enacted level. The bill includes $26 million for the Office of Minority Health, a cut of $49 million below the enacted level. The bill includes $28 million for the Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative, a cut of $24 million below the enacted level. The bill includes $20 million for the Office on Women’s Health, a cut of $49 million below the enacted level. article yes
Sept. 27, 2022, ASTHO Legislative Alert: analysis of Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 6833).
On Oct. 4, 2023, ASTHO, CDC, the Center for Law and Social Policy, and Mental Health America released a framework for public health leaders with effective strategies to improve mental health and prevent suicide for all people, in every community in the settings where they live, learn, work, and play.
On October 31, 2023 ASTHO announced the approval of one new and four updated health policy statements.
On May 11, 2023, ASTHO announced it had filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court of North Carolina asserting that a public health official must be empowered to take quick action to protect the public health and safety of their residents and should not be liable for economic damages experienced by businesses subject to a public health order.
On July 27, 2023, ASTHO announced it has been selected as a 2023 Power of Associations Gold Award winner for its Partnering for Vaccine Equity initiative, and a 2023 Power of Associations Silver Award winner for its Disability and Preparedness Specialist Program.
On June 14, 2023, ASTHO announced that the organization's daily newscast, Public Health Review Morning Edition, earned a Bronze Anvil Award of Commendation Trophy from the Public Relations Society of America.
ASTHO Leaders Selected for de Beaumont Foundation’s 40 Under 40 in Public Health ARLINGTON, VA—Today, the de Beaumont Foundation announced its 40 Under 40 in Public Health class of 2023, a national recognition for leaders changing the field of public health. One state health official, an ASTHO staff member, and three Diverse Executive Leading in Public Health (DELPH) scholars were selected for the list. The recognition acknowledges the achievements of exceptional public health professionals and highlights ASTHO's role in cultivating visionary leaders. ASTHO-affiliated selections include: Paula Tran, state health officer and administrator, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Service. ASTHO staff member Alicia Justice, senior director, Programmatic Health Initiatives and Strategy DELPH scholar Dr. James Bell III, state assistant administrator, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. DELPH scholar Heather Pangelinan, director, Public Health Services, Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation DELPH scholar Dr. Eric Tang, public health medical officer, STD Control Branch, California Department of Public Health “I’m thrilled to see ASTHO leaders once again represented on the de Beaumont Foundation’s 40 Under 40 in Public Health list," says ASTHO CEO Michael Fraser, PhD. "This honor showcases their commitment to fostering healthier communities and driving positive change on a national scale." “The professionals chosen for the 40 Under 40 in Public Health Class of 2023 demonstrate the determination, commitment, innovation, and resilience of the public health field,” said Brian C. Castrucci, DrPH, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, which launched the program in 2019. “Their work is strengthening communities and improving lives, and I look forward to following their careers and learning from them.” The nominees represent 21 states and one territory and were selected by a distinguished panel of public health leaders and de Beaumont Foundation staff. It is the third installment of the list, which launched in 2019. The nominees come from a diverse range of backgrounds and professional roles. The 40 Under 40 list also honors nine other state health department staff members, including: Kara Buru, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Shelly Choo, Maryland Department of Health Shamaree Cromartie Jones, Virginia Department of Health Mallory Cyr, Association of Maternal Child Health Programs Jervelle Fort, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Stacey Kallem, Philadelphia Department of Public Health Carolyn Rhodebeck, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Katrina Saphrey, Virginia Department of Health, Crater Health District Julian Watkins, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Learn more about the 40 Under 40 in Public Health honorees. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes
ASTHO Legal Mapping Center Launches Maps of Harm Reduction Policies to Prevent Overdose ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) today announced the launch of its new legal mapping center aimed at highlighting policies that may prevent overdose and help fight the opioid epidemic. With the overall goal of reducing the nation’s overdose rates, the center created maps that visualize the national policy landscape of overdose prevention centers and laws supporting community distribution of naloxone and fentanyl test strips. "Public health leaders can use these maps to identify strategies that we know lead to reductions in overdose rates," says Michael Fraser, PhD, chief executive officer of ASTHO. "I am excited about how this new resource will help our members understand the policy landscape and identify policies they may need to help stop the opioid epidemic." The two maps, created using MonQcle, a legal mapping software by the Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University Beasley School of Law, are part of ASTHO’s support of state and territorial overdose prevention efforts. The first, cross-sectional map visualizes state laws supporting harm reduction efforts at a specific point in time. The second map is a longitudinal map and visualizes which jurisdictions considered legislation to create overdose prevention centers across a period. Each map is accompanied by the research protocol ASTHO staff followed to identify the laws and legislation included in the resource. Additionally, each map provides links to the state law or legislation referenced, a tool for public health leaders and policymakers to find laws in other jurisdictions that may help prevent overdose. "Policy is a powerful tool available to state officials looking to address the overdose crisis," says Maggie Davis, ASTHO’s director of state health policy. "This resource compiles hundreds of laws across the country that support public health efforts to prevent overdose, which public health leaders can use to inform their policy goals for future legislative sessions." Learn more about ASTHO’s recommendations for state and territorial health officials and agencies to reduce overdose rates through policy interventions from a recent Journal of Public Health Management & Practice article. ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate article yes
Public Health Officials Stand Ready to Implement White House Xylazine Response Plan ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) CEO Michael Fraser, PhD, made the following statement regarding the White House release of the Fentanyl Adulterated or Associated with Xylazine Response Plan to address this emerging drug threat to the United States: "ASTHO welcomes the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s release of a coordinated federal response to address this emerging drug threat to the United States. Xylazine, a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer not approved for human use, has infiltrated the illicit drug supply across the country and threatens to increase overdose and worsen outcomes for people who use drugs. This National Response Plan outlines a path forward for state health agencies to redouble existing overdose prevention strategies with an expanded focus to improve testing; expand data collection; implement evidence-based prevention and harm reduction and treatment strategies; and build capacity among providers. We applaud the Administration’s plans to coordinate these efforts across key federal partners, and we look forward to supporting state-level implementation of these strategies. ASTHO and our members are committed to ensuring the health and well-being of the public and stand ready to apply these strategies to this emerging threat. Preventing and mitigating harms related to the combination of fentanyl and xylazine will require us all to work together to establish a comprehensive response encompassing prevention, monitoring, harm reduction, and treatment strategies." ASTHO Press Release Boilerplate website yes
On May 7, 2020, ASTHO released a statement applauding a new tool, the Contact Tracing Workforce Estimator, that will help state and local health departments determine the number of staff needed to effectively identify and trace people who have been in contact with new cases of COVID-19 and slow the spread of the virus.
On March 20, 2020, ASTHO, the Association of Public Health Laboratories, and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists issued policy recommendations regarding testing for COVID-19.
On April 10, 2020, ASTHO CEO Michael Fraser released a statement of support for a new report by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security entitled "A National Plan to Enable Comprehensive COVID-19 Case Finding and Contact Tracing in the U.S."
On Feb, 5, 2020, ASTHO CEO Micheal Fraser issued a statement assuring Americans that governmental public health officials are equipped to face the challenge of preparing for and responding to the current novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Fraser also reminded the country that better funding could accelerate the pace of the response, and help meet the challenges of current and future health threats.
On April 3, 2020, ASTHO CEO Michael Fraser issued a statement emphasizing the importance of using face coverings as a potential intervention to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.