SOPHE Action Alert

ACTION ALERT     Request a Fair and Balanced Approach to Deficit Reduction!    Congress is considering further cuts to public health funding to reduce our nation's deficit. On January 2, 2013 public health and health education programs will face devastating, across-the-board cuts of 8.2 percent through an arcane budget tool known as "sequestration" unless Congress works together to prevent these cuts through a bipartisan, balanced approach to deficit reduction.   Public health programs have already been cut as part of deficit reduction legislation and have experienced additional cuts since 2010, resulting in job loss and hampering our school and community health education programs. Further cuts would be devastating, especially to our nation's most vulnerable populations. Urge your members of Congress to pass a balanced deficit reduction plan that recognizes the deep cuts that have already been made to important discretionary programs such as public health education funding. Use the email messagetemplate provided by APHA to send a letter to your senators and representative. Reaching out is quick and easy. Click on the link above, fill out your contact information and send the message! Feel free to edit the message to include local- or state-specific information to drive home the importance of a strong public health system for the people that your members of Congress represent. For additional information on deficit reduction and the impacts of sequestration, please see the Coalition for Health Funding Grassroots Toolkit and the Coalition of National Health Education Organizations (CNHEO) Budget Impact Stories. Please join us in taking action and spreading the word! Elaine Auld, CEO Jerrica Mathis, Director, Public Policy