[YSPNetwork] Fwd: Act Now to Save Prevention & Wellness Dollars in EconomicRecovery & Reinvestment Bill

[Lisa M MILLET]

FYI


 
 
It*s not too late to act to save prevention and wellness dollars in the
Economic Recovery & Reinvestment Act. The conference committee is
currently working to resolve disagreements between the House and Senate
versions of the bill. The House version includes $3 billion for
prevention and wellness, including $50 million for injury prevention.
The Senate version has no dollars allocated for prevention and wellness.
It is anticipated that the conference committee will be working swiftly
this week to come to an agreement for the House and Senate for a vote
and to the President for his signature by President*s Day. 
 
Here*s what we need to do NOW:
 
-          call/email your state*s delegation
(http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt)
-          contact the Obama Administration
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact)  
-          write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper(s) *
examples/templates can be found on www.healthyamericans.org (
http://www.healthyamericans.org/ ) (currently under development) and
(http://www.capwiz.com/apha/issues/alert/?alertid=12593641) 
 
It is important to emphasize that we are asking for support for the
House investment of $3 billion and that  investing in the public health
sector will help stimulate job creation in the short-term and help build
stronger, healthier communities (a key goal of the Obama Administration
in reforming health care and investing in public health).Here are some
sample talking points:
 
-          State health and local health departments lost over 11,000
jobs last year, and are projecting to lose an equivalent amount over the
next year due to the economy and state budgets. The economic recovery
and reinvestment funding could restore those lost jobs and prevent a
projected additional 10,000 job vacancies from occurring next year in
health departments.  Beyond the health departments, many community based
organizations would also potentially be funded to create new jobs to
provide prevention services and programs to the public.
 
-          This important public health funding is critical to
improving the health of all Americans and to reducing the growing
economic and social costs associated with preventable disease and
injuries.
 
-          Funding for public health and disease prevention in the
stimulus bill is a down payment toward reducing health care costs over
the long term. The investment will create new jobs and help revitalize
the infrastructure of state, local, and community-based programs aimed
at reducing rates of disease. At the same time, these programs can help
reduce health care costs and ensure that the workforce will be as
healthy and safe to accelerate the stabilization of the economy.
 
-          A recent study by the Trust for America*s Health found that
for every $1 spent on prove   n community-based disease prevention
programs, the country could net a return of $5.60 in health care costs
within five years.
 
-          To stimulate job creation in the health field and fully
capitalize on the opportunity to promote health, we ask that you support
the House investment of $3 billion in the final version of the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
 
Please share this message with your colleagues and other advocates for
injury and violence prevention and public health. We need as many voices
as possible to protect the House investment! 

Thanks for all you do to keep Americans safe,
 
Amber
 
 
Amber N. Williams
Executive Director
State and Territorial Injury Prevention Directors Association (STIPDA)
 
Please note our new address:
2200 Century Parkway, Suite 700
Atlanta, GA 30345
(770) 690-9000
(678) 895-5086 Mobile
(770) 690-8996 FAX
amber.williams at stipda.org 
www.stipda.org 
 
Lisa M. Millet
Injury Prevention and Epidemiology Section Manager
Office of Disease Prevention and Epidemiology
Oregon Public Health Division
Department of Human Services
800 NE Oregon St. Suite 772
Portland, OR  97
232
971-673-1059 desk
503-572-8585 cell
971-673-0990 fax
Lisa.M.Millet at state.or.us
If all you did was just look for things to appreciate you would live a
joyous, spectacular life.
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