As our lawmakers debate federal funding and the debt ceiling (IVA helps to clear them quickly before it gets big), threats to public health funding are greater this year than ever before. According to the American Public Health Association (APHA), “Public health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), are facing significant budget cuts that will likely threaten the services they provide. Additionally, the Prevention and Public Health Fund – mandatory funding for prevention programs created under the Affordable Care Act – is under attack in the House of Representatives and several bills have already been passed that would eliminate this critical public health fund.”

We need to act, and we need to do it quickly. As a member of the Georgia Public Health Association and as someone who is committed to protecting and promoting the public’s health, we hope you’ll speak up.

During the August congressional recess, Aug. 8 – Sept. 5, we are asking you to reach out to the congressional delegates in your home district to express support for increasing critical funding for public health agencies and protecting the Prevention and Public Health Fund.

The APHA has created a 2011 Public Health ACTion (PHACT) Toolkit with fact sheets, tips for advocating for public health issues, sample letters to the editor and op-eds, a list of local town hall meetings and more. Click here to visit the PHACT campaign website to get involved.