110th CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE

April 2009

ECONOMIC STIMULUS

President Barack Obama signed the economic stimulus legislation, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, HR 1, into law on February 17, 2009.  It received final approval by the House of Representatives and the Senate on February 13^th, by a total of 246-183 and 60-38, respectively.  The total cost of the bill is estimated at $787 billion.  No Republicans voted for the measure in the House, and in the Senate, the only Republican votes came from Senators Specter, Collins and Snowe.

• $10 billion is included for National Institutes of Health (NIH). 
• $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research, to be allocated $300 million for AHRQ, $400 million for NIH, and $400 million to for the Secretary to allocate. The funding in the conference agreement shall be used to conduct or support research to evaluate and compare the clinical outcomes, effectiveness, risk, and benefits of two or more medical treatments and services that address a particular medical condition...Read more.

2009 Omnibus
The FY2009 Omnibus (H.R. 1105) was introduced on Monday February 23rd.  The legislation is a consolidated spending package that includes nine of this year’s appropriations bills (all except Homeland Security, Defense, and Military Construction/VA).  Its total cost is $410 billion, with the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education component adding up to $151.8 billion, which is $6.4 billion over the President’s request and $6.7 billion over the FY2008 level.  The House of Representatives completed work on the Omnibus, passing it by margin of 245-178....Read more. 

Fiscal Year 2010 Budget
On February 26th, the Administration released the fiscal year 2010 budget, “A New Era of Responsibility” which is lays out a blue print with the detailed budget scheduled to be released on April 21st.  The budget totaled $3.6 trillion and projects a $1.8 trillion deficit in FY 2009, easing to $1.2 trillion in FY 2010 and $533 billion by FY 2013.  To help pay for his priorities, the President is proposing a tax hike on affluent Americans, selling carbon emission credits as part of a cap-and-trade system to combat global warming, and asks Congress to squeeze savings from Medicare and Medicaid, as well as a variety of other programs.  The budget outline also includes a $250 billion placeholder for further efforts to address the banking crisis on Wall Street, even as the administration begins to use the second half of the $700 billion bailout enacted late last year. The placeholder funding would support $750 billion in asset purchases, according to the administration.  The budget also assumes that legislation enacting a cap-and-trade system aimed at reducing carbon emissions would bring in $645.7 billion over 10 years.

While President Obama plans a different approach to Iraq and Afghanistan than President George W. Bush, his budget requests an additional $75.5 billion in fiscal 2009 for war costs and then $130 billion in fiscal 2010. The budget includes a $50 billion per year placeholder figure for war operations through fiscal 2019. In total, the budget includes $580 billion over 10 years for what it describes as “overseas contingency operations.” ...Read more.

Like many equity advocates, I wasn't sure quite what to expect from President Obama's first budget.  A new president's inaugural budget is a statement of his values-a black-and-white rendering of how he wants to make America and Americans stronger.  I knew equity was at the heart of the Obama administration's collective philosophy, but I wasn't sure whether political realitites would trump their idealism. 

Now that I've seen their budget, though, I know where they landed.  Equity is right there in black-and-white.  After eight years of moving in the wrong direction, this new budget is a significant step toward a more inclusive, opportunity-rich nation.  We've still got a lot of work to do, but this budget will provide a strong foundation on which to build a truly equitable economic recovery for all people, by: Lifting Up What works ...Read more.

NEWS FROM DHPE

Become a Member of DHPE  and  sign up for Committees and Workgroups  so you can be involved in contributing to the Strategic  direction of the association and importantly, enhance and advance the profession as well as increase awareness in health promotion and public health education.  

For more information about  Membership and  Committees/Workgroups.   To join, please fill out forms or vist http://www.dhpe.org and click on Join Now.

 DHPE is pleased to offer our members the Ready Talk Web-conferencing tool at the Nonprofit discount rate. If you are a DHPE member and would like to take advantage of this discount, please stay tuned as we will look to release this in conjunction with our new membership website!

In addition to the Ready Talk partnership, DHPE has also partnered with Jossey-Bass to bring you great discounts on top notch publications from one of the leaders in the public health publishing field.

 John Wiley & Sons, Inc., is an independent, global publisher of print and electronic media products, specializing in scientific and technical books and journals; professional and consumer books and subscription services; and textbooks and educational materials for colleges and universities.

For more information on ReadyTalk and Jossey Bass-Wiley, please contact sweber@dhpe.org.

Best Wishes to DHPE Staff Member, Sara and husband Brandon Bowie, on the birth of twin daughters  Lily and Savannah on March 27, 2009 at 8:21am and 8:23am.

Ann K. Thacher, Former Rhode Island Voting Member Joins DHPE Staff
Ann Thacher, worked for the RI Department of Health for over 20 years.  She was an original member of the school health workgroup which she will now staff and is enjoying working with old friends and new. She was an original member of the school health workgroup which she will now staff and is enjoying working with old friends and new.  she is very happy to be working at DHPE where she has always felt at home professionally.

VOTING MEMBERS:  DHPE welcomes its new voting members: Rebel Baker, KY Dept for Public Health,  Linda Krantz, MT Dept of Public Health, Larissa Skjonsberg, SD Office of Health Promotion.

Associate Members: DHPE welcomes new associate members: Deborah Syse (IL), Yensenka Peterson (IN), Jean Mee (CT),Tara Redmond, (GA), Nanncy White (CA), Trina Khalfani (IL), Karen Girard (OR), Gale Batalille (CA), Anne McHugh (MA), Linda Khalil (NY), Lisa Houchin (KY), Deborah Syse (IL), Kathy Turner (NY), Mary Manning (MN), Mark Kinde (MN), Khatidja Dawood (MN), Yasenka Peterson (IN), Charlotte Williams (NC), Janice Daly (FL), Kevin Brown (MD), Tryone Bell (GA),Maia Banks-Scheetz (MD), Laura Steele (NJ), Sherea Robinson (GA), Oriana Perez (TX), Nadine Kahn (FL), Jorli Wales (LA), Sarah Thach (NC), Anastasia Snelling (DC), Pete Devereaux (TX), Dusty Lewis (WY), Patricia McGarry-Stizak (NY), Mark Marino (MD), Rebecca Kelly (AL), Frfed Honigman (PA), Rick Dielman (TX), Nancy Mason (TN), Carol Johns (TX), Gretechen Clarke (AK), Stephanie Chisolm (MD), Jean Mee (CT), Francine Rodgers (GA)Lisa Richards(NH), Mindy Fitterman (NH), Regina Flynn (NH).

Internship Program for Students of Minority Serving Institutions Since the fall of 2002, the DHPE/CDC Internship Program has provided 12-week field placements with stipends for more than 200 qualified students of health education and health promotion.  The Internship Program has become highly competitive.  Approximately 200 students applied to the fall and spring sessions 2007 with slots for only 15 for each session. Students who went through the program in 2007 have been accepted to doctoral and master’s degree programs, have been hired by their placement sites, and have participated in other fellowships.  For more information contact Mariela Yohe at malarcon@dhpe.org or internship Program for Students of Minority Serving Institutions at  http://www.dhpe.org/. A special thanks to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for their continued support of the internship.

 Congratulations to our  newly accepted interns for Summer Session 2009:  Rose American-Senat, (Barry University); Yadira Arambula-Salazar (CSU Fresno); Lailaa Bartley (Morehouse School of Medicine): Tyrone Bell (Morehouse School of Medicine); Diana Brown (Morehouse School of Medicine); Meghan Brown (Mississippi College); Grettel Castro (FL International University); Virginia Day (CSU Fresno); Kayla Dove (North Carolina Central University); Stephanie Hall (Morehouse School of Medicine); Mina Rasheed (Morehouse School of Medicine); Ayanna Robinson (Morehouse School of Medicine); Maryam Robinson(Morehouse School of Medicine); Donna Russell (Barry University); Bryesha Smith (Tuskegee University);Irene Valdes-Wochinger (SUNY Albany); Berenice Vega (CSU Fresno); Vincent Walford ( Morehouse School of Medicine).  These students were selected from a list of over 50 students who applied for this session.

FROM OUR PARTNERS

 ASTHO and NACCHO are asking Congress and the President to provide at least $1 billion for state and local response efforts to the H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak. ASTHO Executive Director Paul Jarris, MD testified Tuesday before the Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee that this money would support the public health workforce who are on the front lines, boost disease surveillance, enhance laboratory capacity, support public and clinician education, and help states purchase antivirals and personal protective equipment. Read the request.

ASTHO and Affiliates Request $20 Billion for health Reform from Federal Government.  This investment would provide a comprehensive public health benefit package for all, strengthen disease surveillance, support a national interoperable electronic health information exchange system between public health and clinicians, reduce chronic disease rates, and strengthen the public health workforce. See the full document illustrating why public health is "An Essential Componet of a Healthy America."

White House Update on Food Safety Workgroup
On April 21, the White House held an update call on its internal food safety workgroup. The workgroup is led by HHS and USDA and comprise members from all federal agencies involved in food safety. It is scheduled to deliver preliminary recommendations to President Obama by the end of June. ASTHO will be invited to a White House forum on Food Safety later this spring to provide input into the process.  Future updates will be available at: http://www.foodsafetyworkinggroup.gov/.

 WASHINGTON, DC, April 27, 2009 - Robert J. Gould, a behavioral scientist who has helped lead some of the nation’s most successful social marketing campaigns, has been named president of Partnership for Prevention. The appointment by Partnership’s board of directors was announced today by Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, chairman of the board.
 
“Rob’s unique combination of behavioral science expertise, proven leadership, achievements in applying social marketing to health promotion and his passion for the mission of Partnership make him the right choice,” said Fielding, who is Director of Los Angeles County’s  Department of Public Health and chairman of the US Community Preventive Services Task Force...Read more.

Partnership for Prevention® developed Investing in Health: Evidence-Based Health Promotion Practices for the Workplace to provide employers with guidance that can improve employee health by controlling tobacco use, promoting cancer screening and early detection, and encouraging physical activity and healthy eating.

Investing in Health translates evidence-based recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the Task Force on Community Preventive Services into easy-to-follow action steps that will enhance employee productivity, help employers manage healthcare spending, and improve employee morale.

Web links to additional resources and tools are provided to assist with planning and implementing healthier workplace practices. Visit www.prevent.org/actionguides to place an order or to download a copy for free.

 Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today released a new report that found Midwestern and Southern states received less funding from the federal government than Northeastern and Western states did in fiscal year (FY) 2008 for disease prevention programs, which can amount to millions of dollars in differences.  The Shortchanging America’s Health: A State-By-State Look at How Federal Public Health Dollars are Spent also examines how the economic downturn could lead to serious cuts to disease prevention and emergency preparedness programs at the state level.

 The report found that states receive $17.60 per person on average from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to spend on public health.  Midwestern states received an average of $17.69 per person and Southern states received $18.43 per person,  while Northeastern states received $22.49 and Western states received $23.94 per person from the CDC...Read more.

Public health programs are supported through a combination of federal, state, and local resources.  State funding is expected to drop significantly as state governments face severe budget crises.  According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), at least 46 states are facing shortfalls to their 2009 and/or 2010 budgets.  CBPP estimates that combined budget gaps for states in the remainder of 2009, 2010, and 2011 could total more than $350 billion.  Some health programs at-risk for cuts include:
 
• Cancer, diabetes, obesity, and other chronic disease prevention;
• HIV/AIDS, MRSA, TB, and other infectious disease prevention;
• Food and water safety;
• Environmental health improvement; and
• Bioterrorism and health emergency preparedness.
 
In addition, more than 11,000 state and local public health jobs have already been cut, and another 10,000 may be cut, according to surveys conducted by state and local health departments.
 
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided an additional $1 billion for public health programs for next year, which will help provide additional support in many communities...Read more.

“The financial crisis makes it more important than ever for the country to make prevention a top priority,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  “Even in these troubled times, prevention is an investment we can count on to deliver a big payoff -- sparing millions of people from developing preventable diseases while saving billions in health care costs.”
 
The full report includes state-by-state pages of key health statistics and funding information and is available on TFAH’s Web site at www.healthyamericans.org. The report was supported by a grant from RWJF...Read more.
 

The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) and the 12 undersigned state oncology societies appreciate this opportunity to comment on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) draft coverage decision memorandum for anticancer chemotherapy for colorectal cancer (CAG-00179N).1 ACCC is a membership organization whose members include hospitals, physicians, nurses, social workers, and oncology team members who care for millions of patients and families fighting cancer. ACCC’s more than 700 member institutions and organizations treat 45% of all U.S. cancer patients. Combined with our physician membership, ACCC represents the facilities and providers responsible for treating over 65% of all U.S. cancer patients. The undersigned state oncology societies represent over 525 additional oncologists....Read more.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

 July 27-29, 2009,The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, will host its inaugural conference on obesity prevention and control, Weight of the Nation, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.  Planning for the conference is being done in consultation with the Division of Adolescent and School Health; the Division of Adult and Community Health; the Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors (ASTPHND); the Directors of Health Promotion and Education (DHPE); and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD).  For more informtion visit  www.weightofthenation.org.

August 30 - Sept 3, 2009, PHIN Conference  Atlanta, GA Hyatt Regency,The theme this year is Informatics: Investment for the Future, and we hope you'll join us as the best of the informatics community meets in one place to invest in the future of PHIN and the world of informatics. The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) will co-sponsor this event.
For more information on PHIN, visit our website at http://www.cdc.gov/phin

20th IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion, July 11-15, 2010, Geneva, Switzerland. For further information www.iuhpeconference.net

CDC CORNER

Forty-Three Communities Receive Grants To Combat Obesity and Chronic Diseases 43 U.S. communities have been selected in 21 states to advance community leadership in the nation's effort to prevent chronic diseases and related risk factors through  a locally collaborative approach.  This aproach, called Action Communities for Health, Innovation, and EnVironmental ChangE (ACHIEVE), is supported by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Healthy Communities Program...Read more.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

2009 ASTHO Award Nominations: Vision Awards, Jim Parker Award
ASTHO is requesting nominations for the 2009 Vision Awards, which recognize outstanding state and territorial health department programs and initiatives that use a creative approach to address public health needs or problems. Awards are granted in two categories: programs with budgets greater than $250,000, and programs with budgets less than $250,000. The submission deadline is May 27, 2009. The Vision Award guidance and forms are available now. For further information contact Jason Hohl, 571-527-3149 or jhohl@astho.org 

ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

The Directors of Health Promotion and Education (DHPE) is a 501(C)(3) association based in Washington, DC and is an affiliate of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO).  DHPE is organized specifically to provide leadership in health promotion, programming, practice, training, technical assistance and policy developments

DHPE makes every effort to present reliable and accurate information in this newsletter; however, DHPE does not endorse, certify, approve or guarantee accuracy, timeliness or completeness of such information.  Therefore, any references to a program, service, process or system do not imply or constitute endorsement or recommendation by DHPE, unless expressly noted. Past issues are archived on-line at http://www.dhpe.org/

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