883: National Public Health Week, ASTHO Priorities to Congress

SUMMER JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, April 11, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

JOSEPH KANTER:

To me, National Public Health Week is an opportunity to take a step back and say, "What did public health do for us?" It all comes back to this notion that when public health is very successful, oftentimes it's in the background. It's silent. No one realizes it.

JOHNSON: 

All this week, National Public Health Week has reminded us of the accomplishments and the tireless effort of those in public health. ASTHO CEO, Dr. Joseph Kanter, acknowledges the great work that's done each and every day.

KANTER:

To me, Public Health Awareness Week is one opportunity to say, listen, let's take a step back and let's talk about what it is that your health department has done that improves your life, that improves your family's life, that improves your community's life, even if you took it for granted.

JOHNSON: 

Kanter says one of the great joys of his role is working directly with those who keep the nation safe every day.

KANTER:

I love meeting public health professionals, people that work in health departments, and hearing their stories and hearing why they do it. It's not for the money. I'll tell you that they do it because they're committed.

JOHNSON: 

Kanter believes that we have to make sure the public can hear from public health workers and understand what they do.

KANTER:

Being able to talk to folks who are working on the ground in public health departments throughout the country, and hearing why they do it and how they view their actions, and is leading to improved health within their communities is very powerful.

JOHNSON: 

National Public Health Week officially wraps up on April 13. You can click the link in the show notes to learn more.

ASTHO President, Dr. Scott Harris, who is also Alabama's state health officer, testified before a House Subcommittee on Wednesday of this week. Harris used his time to make some direct requests of policymakers.

SCOTT HARRIS: 

First, we ask you to help sustain investments to state and territorial health departments. The return on investment generated by public health spending is clear. Preventing disease saves lives, but also saves dollars. Harris went on to say, secondly, we just ask you to please support us in our wish to be included in the decisions that affect us in our work. We are on the front lines implementing federal policy, we're the boots on the ground that do that work, and it's really vital that we be consulted on the impact of funding cuts or administrative changes.

JOHNSON: 

And lastly...

HARRIS: 

We ask you for flexibility in how federal funds are felt. We're so grateful to this subcommittee. We're so grateful to Congress for the support of public health infrastructure and capacity. At $350 million for FY25, we respectfully request $1 billion to CDC in FY26.

JOHNSON: 

Harris' full testimony is online now. You can also hear from him in yesterday's episode of Public Health Review Morning Edition. Plus, ASTHO has a full news release on the testimony. The links to all three will be in the show notes.

Also, Jacki Tulafono, with the Department of Health in American Samoa, attended her first-ever ASTHO Spring Leadership Forum in D.C. recently, and says the experience was one of a kind.

JACKI TULAFONO: 

It's been a valuable experience because we talk about things that impact both local issues, as well as issues across the region, and I think also, it's most valuable because it's such a critical time in the funding and appropriation decision-making process, and it's important for us to have our voices heard and let people know here in the Capitol how the decisions made here in Washington trickle down and impact health in American Samoa.

JOHNSON: 

Finally, today, you can find everything related to the Public Health Infrastructure Grant all in one place. Deadlines, project updates, events, resources, opportunities, and more can all be found in the PHIG National Partners 'Connections' newsletter. You can sign up today by clicking the link in the show notes.

That'll do it for today. We're back on Monday morning 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.