FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Media Relations
Statement from APHA Executive Director Georges C. Benjamin, MD
The American Public Health Association welcomes the final FY 2023 omnibus funding bill that will be considered in Congress this week, avoiding a long-term continuing resolution that brings uncertainty and makes it more difficult for health agencies and their grantees to protect the public’s health.
Importantly, the legislation would increase funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by $760 million in fiscal year 2023 for a total of $9.2 billion. This funding would help strengthen the nation’s public health infrastructure and workforce as we continue to combat COVID-19 and other public health threats. The increase would also support other critical programs to address many of our most pressing public health challenges, data modernization, chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, health disparities and inequities and global health protection.
APHA welcomes the important public health investments made in this bill, including:
- $350 million in flexible funding for state and local public health infrastructure needs, an increase of $150 million over FY 2022, and $71 million — a $10 million increase over FY 2022 — for strengthening the public health workforce,
- $175 million for the ongoing effort to modernize data systems at CDC and state and local health departments, an increase of $75million over FY 2022,
- $693 million for global health, an increase of $46 million over FY 2022, and
- $1.175 billion for chronic disease prevention activities, a $91 million increase over FY 2022.
The bill would also provide an increase of $900 million for the Health Resources and Services Administration for a total of more than $9.4 billion in FY 2023. Key investments for HRSA include:
- $1.9 billion for the Health Centers program, an increase of $110 million over FY 2022 that includes $55 million for school-based health centers,
- $823 million for the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, an increase of $87 million over FY 2022,
- $300 million for Title VIII Nursing Programs, an increase of $20 million over FY 2022,
- $2.6 billion for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, an increase of $76 million over FY 2022 that includes $322 million for the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative, and
- $286 million for Title X Family Planning.
While the bill does not include increases for many other underfunded and important public health programs, APHA will continue to work with members of Congress and the administration to highlight the important impact increased funding can have on improving the health of our communities, especially the most vulnerable among us.
###
The American Public Health Association champions the health of all people and all communities. We are the only organization that combines a 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public’s health. Learn more at www.apha.org.