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Public Health Continuum

Public Health 101: The leading Challenges
for the U.S. in the Coming Decade

Letter on 302b allocations to Senators Stevens and Byrd & Representatives Young and Obey

May 23, 2001

The Honorable Bill Young
Chairman, Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives
Room H-218, The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515-6015

Dear Mr. Chairman:

The Coalition for Health Funding urges you to provide the highest possible allotment for the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations as you make decisions about this year's 302b allocations. While the Coalition appreciates the many demands on the limited overall discretionary spending total provided in the Budget Resolution, we strongly believe there is no higher priority than the nation's health. Discretionary health programs are a necessary, cost-effective investment in protecting and promoting the health and productivity of the American people.

The United States is facing many continuing, and new, challenges in the 21st century. These include:

eliminating growing antimicrobial resistance to drugs designed to treat common infections
ensuring access for all Americans to needed health care services
eliminating health disparities
ensuring a safe food supply and safe and effective drugs and medical devices
ensuring children, and adults, are vaccinated against preventable diseases
preparing for a bioterrorist attack
providing an appropriately trained health and public health workforce and in adequate numbers to address the breadth of need
preventing, or treating early, chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer
preventing, or treating early, infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, and Hepatitis C
preventing birth defects and developmental disabilities as well as helping those who have disabilities
preventing and effectively treating mental disorders and substance abuse

Each of these challenges requires enhanced support across the continuum of public health activity that encompasses not only biomedical research, but also behavioral and health services research, community based prevention strategies, health care services for medically underserved populations, and health professions training. Sustaining this continuum of activities with sufficient resources will be critical if we are to achieve the goal of improving the health and well-being of all Americans.

The Coalition for Health Funding (see attached list of members) is a nonprofit alliance of forty national voluntary and professional associations comprising approximately 40 million health care professionals, lay volunteers, patients and families. The Coalition works in a nonpartisan fashion to ensure that discretionary health spending remains highly visible as Congress and the Administration set federal budget priorities. Founded in 1970, the Coalition is the oldest and most broadly based health coalitions focused on the budget and appropriations process for discretionary programs.

Sincerely,

David B. Moore
President

Marcia S. Mabee, MPH, PhD
Executive Director

©2008 Coalition for Health Funding