ASTHO Statement on the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018

March 22, 2018

ARLINGTON, VA—Michael Fraser, executive director of ASTHO, issued the following statement on the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018.

“Yesterday, Congress sent a clear message to the American public that investing in CDC and state and territorial public health programs is a priority. We are thrilled the Appropriations Committees provided the most significant investment in CDC in over a decade. The new funding to address the opioid epidemic, increased investments in preparedness programs, sustaining the Preventive Health and Health Services block grant, and across the board increases is an important first step to protecting and improving the health of all Americans.”

“We greatly appreciate the tireless efforts of Senators Roy Blunt and Patty Murray and Representatives Tom Cole and Rosa DeLauro for championing this endeavor. With all the threats our nation faces today it is so important that we adequately invest in CDC, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 is an important first step to accomplish that goal. We look forward to working with these leaders during the FY19 appropriations process to harness this momentum and continue to reinvest in public health programs to ensure our nation’s health is protected from communicable and non-communicable disease.”

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ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing the public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. territories and freely associated states, and Washington, D.C., as well as the more than 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and to ensuring excellence in public health practice.