Avia Mason, ASTHO vice president of Leadership and Learning, tells us what to expect from ASTHO’s 2025 Spring Executive Leadership Forum; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO senior director for Government Affairs, takes us through some of the priorities for meetings on...
Avia Mason, ASTHO vice president of Leadership and Learning, tells us what to expect from ASTHO’s 2025 Spring Executive Leadership Forum; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO senior director for Government Affairs, takes us through some of the priorities for meetings on Capitol Hill; and ASTHO has an entire web page dedicated to rulemaking.
JANSON SILVERS:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, March 7, 2025. I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
AVIA MASON:
The 2025 Executive Leadership Forum brings together both state and territorial health officials, representatives from island jurisdictions, and our executive leaders participating in the ALI cohort. This includes senior deputies, legislative liaisons, chief financial officers and public health lawyers from over 20 states.
SILVERS:
ASTHO's annual Executive Leadership Forum kicks off next week, and ASTHO's Ava Mason says, when members come to D.C., there is always a lot of excitement.
AVIA MASON:
This is a great opportunity for our members to come together, to connect with their federal delegation, to share the important role of health departments in the health and safety of our country.
SILVERS:
The week will consist of a board of directors meeting, skill development workshops, meetings with House and Senate staff and more.
MASON:
This is an extremely important meeting for the time that we are currently facing in public health. We have had a number of new health officials named post-election in the fall of 2024 This will also give an opportunity for them to discuss and meet new federal administration leaders, to think about what we will be facing in the coming year.
SILVERS:
During those meetings on Capitol Hill, ASTHO members and staff will have plenty to discuss. ASTHO's Jeffrey Ekoma takes us through some of the priorities in this week's View from Washington, D.C. report.
Good morning, Jeffrey, and Happy Friday to you. I know it's been a long week.
JEFFREY EKOMA:
It has been and Happy Friday to you as well.
SILVERS:
Now, next week is going to be full of activity for ASTHO, as ASTHO members are in town in D.C. Tell us how ASTHO members will be spending their time in Washington.
EKOMA:
Yes, we are incredibly excited for our Spring Leadership Forum, and we're really excited about the over 20 health officials that will be coming to D.C. to meet with their representatives on Capitol Hill. The week will start with a meeting with our board going to the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, to meet with leadership at HHS to discuss a host of different activities and programs within their states and also the Administration's priorities. And then later on in the week, our members will be storming Capitol Hill. So, we're really excited about that, and really excited about all the work and the activities that have led up to this moment, and really excited for our members to talk to their representatives on the Hill on things that are top of mind for them, as well as a host of other things.
SILVERS:
How many members do you expect to have meetings up on the Hill?
EKOMA:
So, we expect over 20 health officials. In addition to that, our territorial members and FAS members will also be meeting with several committees such as the House Natural Resources Committee, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
SILVERS:
That's wonderful. And what are some of those issues that our ASTHO members will be taking to their members of Congress?
EKOMA:
Yes, in addition to just things that are happening on the ground within the different jurisdictions, we're also asking our members to highlight the importance of federal funding and how that matriculates within their respective agencies, also the Public Health Infrastructure Grant, or PHIG, some success stories around PHIG. And then lastly, the current discussions happening around the Continuing Resolution and the expiration of funds on March 14, and really what a potential government shutdown would mean to their respective agencies.
SILVERS:
That's terrific. And it sounds like you're definitely going to have a busy week. I can't wait to hear back and see how it went.
EKOMA:
Absolutely. We appreciate it. Thank you so much to everyone that has supported everything related to the Spring Leadership Forum, especially on the Government Affairs team. And we're really excited for next week.
SILVERS:
Also this morning, if your team needs resources pertaining to rulemaking, ASTHO has you covered. An entire web page dedicated to rulemaking is waiting for you on ASTHO's website. Get the help your team needs today by clicking the link in the show notes.
Finally, this morning, don't ever miss a single piece of public health news when you sign up for ASTHO's Public Health Weekly newsletter. It's the perfect compliment to this daily newscast. Of course, the link is in the show notes.
That'll do it for today. We're back on Monday morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Janson Silvers. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great weekend.
