The House Labor-HHS Subcommittee approved their FY 2010 Appropriations bill. The bill includes $266 million for Title VII (a $45 million, 20.1% increase over FY 2010). The bill also includes $263 million for Title VII (a $92 million, 54% increase over FY 2010). An updated funding chart compares the FY 2010 House Appropriations level to the FY 2010 President's Budget request and to the levels enacted in FY 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

The FY 2010 HPNEC Brochure (PDF, 6 pages) is available! Contact Tannaz Rasouli at trasouli@aamc.org for copies.

On May 7, President Obama's detailed budget request was released. The budget includes $265 million for Title VII and $263 million for Title VIII (19.4% and 54% increases, respectively). This includes $101 million (16.1% increase) for Title VII diversity programs, a 16.5% increase for primary care, and $125 million (264% increase) for the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program. An updated funding chart compares the FY 2010 President's budget funding level to the levels enacted in FY 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

The list of health professions grants for FY 2008 is now available! See a full list of Title VII grants by state for FYs 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 and compare state totals before and after the enacted 51.5 percent cut to Title VII in FY 2006.

In an April 2 letter (PDF, 5 pages) to the House Appropriations Labor-HHS Subcommittee Chair David Obey (D-WI) and Subcommittee Ranking Member Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), 68 Representatives call for restored funding to the Title VII programs. The letter was organized by Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA).

In an April 1 letter (PDF, 8 pages) to the House Appropriations Labor-HHS Subcommittee Chair David Obey (D-WI) and Subcommittee Ranking Member Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), 136 Representatives call for $215 million for the Title VIII programs in FY 2010. The letter was organized by Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) and Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ).

Dr. Tina Cheng testified before the House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee on behalf of HPNEC on March 18, 2009. Dr. Cheng testified on behalf of HPNEC and the Title VII and VIII programs at the public witness hearings before the House Labor-HHS subcommittee. She spoke about the importance of the programs, especially in light of the current shortage of health professionals. Dr. Cheng presented HPNEC's recommendation that Titles VII and VIII be appropriated $550 million in FY 2010.

President Obama signed the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill on March 11, 2009. The bill boosts funding for Title VII to $222 million, a $28 million (14.3 percent) increase over FY 2008. This includes increases for the HCOP, COE, primary care, AHEC, allied health and public health programs. For Title VIII, the bill includes $171 million, a $15 million (9.6 percent) increase over FY 2008, with substantial increases for the Loan Repayment and Scholarship Program and the Nursing Faculty Loan Program.

The President signs the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) February 17, 2009. ARRA directs $200 million to HRSA for all the disciplines trained through the primary care medicine and dentistry program, the public health and preventive medicine program, the scholarship and loan repayment programs authorized in Title VII (Health Professions) and Title VIII (Nurse Training) of the PHS Act, and grants to training programs for equipment. Funds may also be used to foster cross-State licensing agreements for healthcare specialists.

Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Pat Roberts led an April 4 letter (PDF, 3 pages) to Senate Appropriations Labor-HHS Subcommittee Chair Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Ranking Member Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), urging restored funding to the Title VII programs. A total of 49 Senators signed the letter.

Another April 4 letter (PDF, 4 pages) to the Subcommittee leadership was organized by Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) regarding Title VIII funding. That letter was signed by 52 Senators.

As part of our effort to restore cuts to the programs, HPNEC is asking affected programs to forward information documenting the impact of these severe cuts on their providers, patients and communities. Please send examples and data to Tannaz Rasouli at trasouli@aamc.org.

HPNEC Background

The Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) is an informal alliance of more than 70 organizations representing a variety of schools, programs, health professionals and students dedicated to educating professional health personnel. Together, the members of HPNEC advocate for adequate and continued support for the health professions and nursing education programs authorized under Titles VII and VIII of the Public Health Service Act. The members of the Coalition believe these programs are essential to the development and training of tomorrow's health professionals and are critical to providing continued health services to underserved and minority communities.

For more information on HPNEC activities or how to join, please contact Tannaz Rasouli, trasouli@aamc.org, HPNEC Director, (202) 828-0525.