Action Alert!: Urge Your Senator to Stand Up for Health Care
The Senate is debating the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the Economic Stimulus Bill. On Monday February, 2, the Senate released a revised version of the bill that keeps $5.8 billion for Prevention and Wellness but no longer includes a specific directive that $400 million of that funding must be spent on HIV and STD prevention.
While the $400 million won’t be restored, we must fight any further reduction in public health funding to the Economic Stimulus Bill. Call your senators today and remind them that the existing public health funding should remain in the final bill! Funding to improve the public health system will create jobs, build healthier communities and benefit those living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS:
• Controlling health care costs is critical to our nation’s economic recovery.
• Funding for public health and disease prevention in the stimulus bill will reduce health care costs over the long term.
• Public health investment will create new jobs and help revitalize the infrastructure of state, local, and community-based programs aimed at reducing rates of disease.
Contact your senators now at 202-224-3121. Ask for your senator by name. Not sure who your senators are? Go to http://capwiz.com/aac/dbq/officials to find out!
Urge your Senators to:
1) Support the $5.8 billion Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund
2) Oppose any amendment that would further diminish this vital Prevention and Wellness Funding
3) Pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Talking Points
I am disappointed that funding specific to HIV and STD prevention was removed from the Economic Stimulus Bill, but still urge you to vote for the bill’s passage.
Please support the $5.8 billion Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. Oppose ANY amendment that would further diminish this vital prevention and wellness funding.
The public health system has severe workforce shortages. One of every four public health workers is eligible to retire in 2012. Investing in the public health sector will stimulate job creation in the short-term and help build stronger, healthier communities. The investment will create new jobs and help revitalize the infrastructure of state, local, and community-based programs aimed at reducing rates of disease.
Investing in prevention and research can help decrease many costly diseases and avoid the need for treatment. Therefore, funding for public health and disease prevention in the stimulus bill will also reduce health care costs over the long term.
Posted on January 28, 2009 at 11:23 pm
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