[Health_Education_Promotion] Fwd: Legislative Update

Wed Jul 7 15:28:17 PDT 2010

FYI

Adrienne Paige Mullock,  MPH, CHES
Public Health Educator
Oregon State WIC Program
800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 865
Portland, Oregon 97232-2162
Telephone:  (971) 673-0054
Fax:  (971) 673-0071
adrienne.p.mullock at state.or.us

>>> "APHA Government Relations" <legislativenews at apha.org> 7/7/2010 2:00 PM >>>

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July 2010

I. Congressional Budget Process Update  
II. Senate Rejects Effort to Restrict EPA Greenhouse Gas Regulations
III. FDA Begins Implementation of Tobacco Regulations
IV. Congress Investigating the Public Health Consequences of Gulf Oil Leak 
V. FMAP Extension Efforts Fail 
VI. APHA Sponsors Climate and Health Briefing
VII. APHA and Partner Efforts to Include Public Health Jobs in Jobs Legislation
VIII. APHA 2010 Public Health ACTion Campaign (PHACT)
IX. National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council 2010 Annual Status Report
X. Policy Watch: Public Health News From the States

I. Congressional Budget Process Update
The House of Representatives will not take up a regular five-year budget resolution this year. Instead, the House will consider a one-year budget enforcement or "deeming" resolution that will set limits on discretionary program spending for the 12 annual appropriations bills for the coming year. On Thursday evening, June 30, 2010, the House of Representatives passed its version of the Supplemental Spending Bill, which included the budget "deeming" resolution capping the FY 2011 discretionary spending at $7 billion below the President's budget request.
While the Senate Budget Committee passed a five-year budget resolution earlier this spring, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) has signaled the Senate will likely follow the House and move forward with a one-year plan as well. Differences between the House and Senate supplemental bills will need to be resolved before the appropriations process can move forward in earnest as issues could arise in the future if there is no agreement on the overall amount for discretionary spending for FY 2011.
House Democrats have tried for weeks to reconcile the desire for spending cuts from more fiscally conservative members of their caucus and rank-and-file Democrats who fear that such cuts could have too great of a negative impact on domestic programs such as health, education and other Democratic priorities.

APHA has been actively advocating for increased funding for federal public health spending as well as for specific increases for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources and Services Administration, our testimony to the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education is available online. You can send a message to your Representative and Senators urging them to provide strong funding for CDC and HRSA by visiting APHA's Take Action page online. 

II. Senate Rejects Effort to Restrict EPA Greenhouse Gas Regulations
On June 10, 2010, the U.S. Senate voted 47-53 against proceeding to consideration of a resolution sponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) that would have overturned the EPA's finding that greenhouse gases (GHG) are hazardous to human health. The so-called "endangerment finding" by EPA relates to six key greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride in the atmosphere. The EPA decision finds that current and future concentrations of these gases threaten the public health and welfare of Americans. The health effects of climate change include: increased likelihood of more frequent and intense heat waves, more wildfires, degraded air quality, more flooding, increased drought, more intense storms, harm to water resources and harm to agriculture. An April 2007 Supreme Court decision required EPA to make a determination of whether there was compelling scientific evidence that greenhouse gases threatened public health and welfare. The resolution introduced by Senator Murkowski would effectively block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

Led by APHA, twelve health organizations joined together in February in sending a letter to all members of the United States Senate urging Senators to oppose Murkowski's resolution. The letter was resent to all Senate offices leading up to the June 10 vote.

You can view the letter opposing the resolution spearheaded by APHA as well as APHA's press release applauding the Senate for rejecting the resolution.

III. FDA Begins Implementation of Tobacco Regulations
On Tuesday, June 22, 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began implementation of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which gives the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to effectively regulate the manufacturing, marketing, and sales of tobacco products. The implementation dates marks the one year anniversary of the enactment of this historic public health legislation. APHA and numerous other health and child advocacy organizations spent years advocating for passage of the legislation.

Key provisions that will be implemented under the new law include: 
- Use of the words "light," "low," and "mild," that mislead consumers into believing that certain cigarettes are safer are prohibited. 
- Larger, stronger warning labels are now required on all smokeless tobacco packages. 
- Vending machines will no longer sell cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products except in adult-only facilities. 
- Outdoor advertising of cigarettes within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, or playgrounds is prohibited. 
- The distribution of free samples of cigarettes is no longer permitted.
- Tobacco companies must now disclose the contents and health effects of tobacco products. 
- Candy and fruit-flavored cigarettes are now banned.
- Advertising must be black text on a white background only, and audio ads may not include sound effects or music, except in adult-only facilities.
- No branded products, such as t-shirts, will be sold in conjunction with cigarette purchases. 
- Marketing and sales to youth will be more strongly regulated.
- Sponsorship of any athletic, musical or other social or cultural events by a tobacco brand name is no longer allowed.

Click here to read APHA's statement regarding FDA's implementation of these key provisions.

IV. Congress Investigating the Public Health Consequences of Gulf Oil Leak
During the week of June 14, 2010, hearings on the health effects of the BP oil spill in the Gulf were held in the House and Senate. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP) and the House Energy and Commerce Committee (E&C) hearings focused on the long term effects of the disaster in the Gulf. Witnesses included representatives from government agencies ranging from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Citing the lack of information available relating to worker health consequences due to clean-up efforts after the attacks of September 11, 2001, members called for an extensive and thorough study to be conducted on the health impacts on the workers involved in the Gulf oil clean-up efforts.
During the Senate HELP Committee hearing, Chairman Harkin (D-Iowa) and Ranking Member Enzi (R-Wyo.) called for officials to make known what is and is not a risk to the American public; to reopen fisheries safely and efficiently; and to closely monitor the health of workers. Since the hearings, reports indicate that BP has been more responsive to CDC requests for worker information.

Hearing transcripts and testimony are available on the committee websites at:Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee.

V. FMAP Extension Efforts Fail

After a failed third attempt on June 24, 2010, to advance legislation extending unemployment benefits through November toward passage on the Senate floor, options for extending Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) funding, which was included in the legislation, appear to have stalled.

APHA supported the FMAP funding extension and encouraged its members to write to their Senators to support the extension in the hopes of preventing severe cuts to state Medicaid programs, which ultimately limits access to quality, affordable health services for millions of Americans.

The Senate was three votes shy of the necessary 60 votes to end debate and move the bill to final vote, with Senator Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) joining the Republicans in opposition.

VI. APHA Sponsors Climate and Health Briefing
On June 24, 2010, APHA and the Consortium for Ocean Leadership cosponsored House and Senate staff briefings regarding a newly released report that outlines the research needs on the human health effects of climate change titled "A Human Health Perspective On Climate Change." The report was released by the Interagency Working Group on Climate Change and Health. The report was published by Environmental Health Perspectives and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Participants in the briefing included: Dr. Christopher Portier, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Dr. George Luber, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ms. Juli Trtanj, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Dr. Charles L. Walthall, United States Department of Agriculture.

Representative Lois Capps (D-Calif.) and Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), two Congressional champions on the issue of climate change and health, served as honorary hosts of the event.

You can view the report and the Interagency report and the PowerPoint presentations from the briefing on APHA's newly launched Environmental Public Health website.  

VII. APHA and Partner Efforts to Include Public Health Jobs in Jobs Legislation
In 2008-2009, state and local health departments lost 25,500 jobs - approximately 15 percent of their workforce. Tens of thousands of other public health professionals have been forced to work reduced hours, at a time when demands on the public health sector are increasing.

APHA has been working with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), and Trust for America's Health (TFAH) to encourage the inclusion of state and local health department employees among other public sector and public safety employees who would be put back to work through jobs legislation crafted by Congress.

On June 30, 2010, NACCHO sponsored a Congressional briefing on the need to save public health jobs across the nation in order to promote and protect the health of America. APHA Executive Director, Georges C. Benjamin, joined a panel of public health leaders speaking to the critical role state and local health department employees play in securing the public health protections for our nation's communities.

Other speakers at the briefing included: Congressman Robert E. Andrews (D-NJ), Chair of the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor; Robert M. Pestronk, Executive Director, NACCHO (Moderator); Terrance Allan, Health Commissioner, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, OH; and Peter L. Beilenson, MD, Health Officer, Howard County, MD.

You can write to your Senators encouraging them to support the inclusion of state and local health department employees as part of jobs legislation by visiting APHA's Take Action page online.

VIII. APHA 2010 Public Health ACTion Campaign (PHACT)
Members of Congress will be in their home states and Congressional districts Aug. 9 - Sept. 10 during their annual summer recess. This is the perfect time to educate them on the policies that help build and maintain healthy communities. Take the first step toward showing your support for these policies by signing our PHACT Campaign Pledge!

APHA has developed a PHACT Campaign toolkit to make it easy to put your pledge showing support for important public health policies into action. It includes information and resources on different strategies for engaging in grassroots advocacy - making a phone call, attending a face-to-face meeting with your representative or writing an op-ed - everything you need to become a Healthy Community Leader. Visit the PHACT Campaign homepage for the toolkit and other helpful materials. Whether you're passionate about public health funding, transportation, climate change, child nutrition or all of the above, APHA wants to help you become a Healthy Community Leader!

Click on the link below to let us know the issues and actions you are interested in and APHA can help you to plan and prepare your efforts!
What actions will you take this summer to be a 
Healthy Community Leader?

IX. National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council 2010 Annual Status Report
The National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council created by the Affordable Care Act, released its 2010 Annual Status Report on June 30. The report was transmitted to Congress. The Council is chaired by Surgeon General Regina Benjamin and includes representatives from a number of federal agencies including the Departments of Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Labor, Transportation and others. The Council will also include an Advisory group of 25 non-federal members from the public and private sectors who are engaged in prevention and wellness programs and activities.report on the HHS website. The report is an update on the Council's work to date and their future efforts to develop the National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy. You can read the 

X. Policy Watch: Public Health News From the States
Connecticut Becomes the First State to Expand its Medicaid Program Under the Affordable Care Act

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved Connecticut's proposal to expand its Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act on June 21, 2010. The Affordable Care Act, signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010, permits states to receive federal funding for providing Medicaid coverage to adults with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, or $14,400 for an individual in 2010. Under the Affordable Care Act, states are required to expand their Medicaid program in 2014 but have the option to apply for early expansion. Connecticut estimates that it will be able to cover 45,000 adults under this new expanded Medicaid program. Heath and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius commended both Governor M. Jodi Rell and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services for their commitment and "speedy action" to expanding coverage. 

Legislative Update Conference Call
Join APHA's Government Relations staff for a conference call to review the May Legislative Update. The call will be held on Monday, July 12, 2010 at 1:00pm (EST). Call (800) 442-5794; Passcode is 141930. Any problems with the call-in number should be directed to customer service at (877) 807-0970.

Contact * APHA Home 
APHA 800 I Street NW, Washington DC 20001 
202-777-APHA (phone) * 202-777-2534 (fax) APHA Advocacy 
In Action

Take Action: Send a letter to Congress today!

Urge Congress to Support Public Health Funding! 

Tell Congress Climate Change is a Public Health Issue!

Tell the Senate to Support Food Safety Reform!

Urge Congress to Support Child Nutrition Reauthorization!

Tell Congress Transportation is a Public Health Issue!

APHA Letters: See what issues APHA and Coalitions are responding to.

Health Reform: Check out our resources and updates.

APHA Statements: View recent APHA press releases on public health topics.

Legislative Update Call: Join APHA staff to discuss the legislative update.
Monday, July 12, 2010
1:00pm (EST)
Call (800) 442-5794
Passcode is 141930

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