749: Congress Returns to Budget Task, Amber Williams Makes a Move

SUMMER JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, September 13, 2024.

I'm Summer Johnson. Now today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

AMBER WILLIAMS: 

I am just so grateful for the opportunities I've had over these years to grow and support our team in doing very meaningful work.

JOHNSON: 

ASTHO senior vice president Amber Williams is leaving the organization after seven years helping to grow the leadership and organizational performance portfolio.

WILLIAMS: 

Over the last few years, we navigated a global pandemic and experienced tremendous organizational growth. And that pushed us to modernize our systems, expand our skill sets, and really focus on how we could better meet member needs. It also allowed us to focus on consistency and quality and impact of our work.

JOHNSON: 

Williams began her public health career in 1999, working as an educator for the Gwinnett County Health Department in Georgia. She says there are a lot of big changes facing public health today.

WILLIAMS: 

The work is increasingly politicized. There are workforce shortages and burnout, and there's a growing need for a different and more strategic skill set and actions to deal with the evolving health threats that face us.

JOHNSON: 

Congress is back to work, and that means it's time to get an update on the federal budget. We hear from ASTHOs, senior vice president, Carolyn Mullen, in this week's View from Washington, DC Report.

Great to see you always, Carolyn. Washington, DC is roaring back to life. Tell us what's happening on the hill.

CAROLYN MULLEN: 

So, Congress is back this week after a long recess, and they have to fund the federal government by September 30. And over the weekend, Speaker Johnson released a short term continued resolution funding the federal government through March, and they actually had to pull the bill from the floor this week, because they do not have the votes to move this legislation forward. So all eyes are on what happens in the next couple weeks. There are rumors that there might be a government shutdown. I think the likelihood of a government shutdown is very low. Members of Congress want to get back to their states and jurisdictions to campaign, because, as you know, the country is very divided right now, and the election hangs on the balance.

JOHNSON: 

You mentioned a short-term continuing resolution. What do you think will happen post November 5th?

MULLEN: 

We really don't know what happens. History will tell us that typically the outgoing Congress wants to finish up their work, so we may expect a short-term continuing resolution through December, and then an omnibus or minibus Bill bringing all of the various appropriations bills together to fund the federal government. But what the House wants is to extend that through March, and that creates a lot of challenges for a new president, a new Congress to clean up the old congressional actions. So I do expect we'll have a short term CR through December. They'll finish up their work, and then they'll go back home, and a new Congress will begin in January.

JOHNSON: 

What should ASTHO members be thinking about right now?

MULLEN: 

The really should be thinking about connecting with their members of Congress. Now is the time to make the case for increased funding for public health. We do expect that despite all of this rhetoric and back and forth and infighting, that at the end of the day, Congress will develop a bipartisan bill, and we want to make sure that it's at the highest level as possible for public health. As a reminder to our listeners, the House Appropriations Bill is very devastating for public health. There are outright eliminations of the injury center, elimination of many programs that we care about. And so it really is incumbent upon our members to make those calls, to have those conversations with members of Congress when they're back in their states and jurisdictions, to talk about the value of public health, and how it actually improves the health of the population.

JOHNSON: 

It sounds like your team has a busy few weeks in front of you.

MULLEN: 

We do, and we will certainly keep you all posted on what happens.

JOHNSON: 

Thank you, Carolyn Mullen. Have a nice weekend.

MULLEN: 

Thank you.

JOHNSON: 

ASTHO sends emails about policy and budget developments as needed. You can sign up for legislative alerts using the link in the show notes.

ASTHO has two announcements today. One regarding performance management and another about health equity.

First, learn how to put performance management into action in a webinar scheduled for next Tuesday, September 17th. Also, a short online course will introduce you to the STRETCH framework. An approach that can help you apply health equity principles at work. The links to the meeting page and the eLearning course are in the show notes.

Another opportunity to learn more about the public health Data Modernization Implementation Center Program is coming your way next week. Agencies with questions about the program should plan to attend ASTHO's office hours meeting happening Monday, September 16th. Get more information using the link in the show notes.

Before we go, remember to join us for Monday's edition of the newscast when we examine the public health policy response to extreme heat conditions impacting communities everywhere.

CATHERINE JONES: 

Predictions indicate that the next five years will be the warmest on record, which will have cascading effects on human health and ecosystems.

JOHNSON: 

Listen for more on Monday. Follow the show, and you'll have it on your mobile device at 5am. Tap the plus sign in the upper right corner of the screen you're looking at right now.

That'll do it for today. We're back next week with more ASTHO news and information.

I'm Summer Johnson. You’re listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition.

Have a great weekend.