The Honorable John Porter

Chairman

Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education,

and Related Agencies

Committee on Appropriations

2358 Rayburn House Office Building

United States House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Porter:

The undersigned members of the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) thank you for providing a significant increase for the health professions programs authorized under Titles VII and VIII of the Public Health Service Act. With a rapidly changing health care delivery environment, there is an ever-increasing need for the well-trained, diverse supply of health care providers educated through these programs.

While we appreciate the increase provided by your subcommittee, we are deeply concerned with the Senate's FY 2001 appropriation for the health professions programs. The Senate's proposed budget allots only $230 million for all health professions programs. Assuming $80 million is directed towards children's hospitals graduate medical education, $150 million remains, a 50 percent cut from FY 2000. These numbers are not sufficient for the health professions programs to function effectively. Training, mentoring, counseling, scholarship, and faculty development programs throughout the country would be forced to shut down if these proposed cuts became law.

The members of HPNEC applaud your continued commitment to these programs that serve to expand and diversify the health care workforce. As you know, a top priority for many Americans is access to quality health care, and health professions and nursing education programs are a critical element in providing this access. The members of HPNEC urge you to remind your colleagues in the other chamber of the importance of these programs while negotiating the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations.

Sincerely,

HPNEC