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ASPH's policies and positions are determined by the ASPH Legislative Committee, chaired by Dean Gary Raskob of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center College of Public Health and comprised of deans of schools of public health.
This webpage provides information on ASPH advocacy efforts.
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Leglislative/Advocacy Report
Prepared by ASPH and ASPH lobbyist, Cornerstone Goverment Affairs
(July 2010) |
Highlights:
- The enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on March 23, 2010, with its emphasis on prevention and wellness as well as health care workforce development, has created significant new opportunities for schools of public health. These will be a topic for discussion at the ASPH Deans Retreat in July.
- A significant increase in funding for Public Health Training Centers was announced on June 17, 2010 as part of the allocation of $500 million this fiscal year of new health reform prevention and public health mandatory funding. The PHTC program will be increased this year from $5.9 million to $21 million with both the number of centers and the funding per center doubled.
- While Congress has abandoned efforts to pass a Budget Resolution setting overall budget policies and goals, the House has reached an agreement on top-line spending for the FY 2011 appropriations bills. The Senate is expected to set its own ceilings in the next few weeks. While a few spending bills may move forward in the process this Summer, final action on the key bills of interest to ASPH are expected to be delayed until after the election. Funding for FY 2011 programs will very likely initially be set through a Continuing Resolution at last year’s levels. The budget outlook moving forward will likely be increasingly constrained given increased attention to the federal deficit, with top-line levels potentially being cut 1-2% below current spending.
- Little progress has occurred on authorizing legislation of interest to ASPH during the last three months as Congress has focused on other priorities.
- ASPH continues efforts to advocate for placement of deans to serve on new advisory commissions created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
- David Obey, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and its critical Labor-HHS-Ed Subcommittee, has announced his retirement. Both Chairman Obey’s departure and the defeat of health champion Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania primary provide early examples of significant changes in Congressional leadership of key committees important to our schools. ASPH is closely following the volatile 2010 electoral situation, which will impact the legislative landscape for ASPH advocacy to the greatest extent since 1994.
No current listings. See the "Advocacy History" page for past briefings.
Updates on key legislative issues and activities provided by ASPH lobbyists, Cornerstone Government Affairs.
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