Maggie Nilz, senior analyst for preparedness at ASTHO, explains how states can help support public health preparedness workforce resilience and capacity; Carolyn Mullen, senior vice president of government affairs and public relations at ASTHO, shares what Congress has been busy with in this week’s View from Washington, D.C. report...
Maggie Nilz, senior analyst for preparedness at ASTHO, explains how states can help support public health preparedness workforce resilience and capacity; Carolyn Mullen, senior vice president of government affairs and public relations at ASTHO, shares what Congress has been busy with in this week’s View from Washington, D.C. report; a new ASTHO resource helps prevent adverse childhood experiences by providing various economic support program options; and Dr. Anne Zink, ASTHO past president, was named co-leader of a new population health data initiative at the Yale School of Public Health.
ASTHO Health Policy Update: States Stay Prepared by Supporting the Public Health Workforce
ASTHO Legislative Alert: One Big Beautiful Bill Law Summary
ASTHO Web Page: Prioritizing Economic Support Policies to Prevent ACEs and Promote Public Health
Yale School of Public Health unveils PopHIVE
SUMMER JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, July 11, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
As public health agencies continue to face complex health emergencies, bolstering the public health preparedness workforce is constantly top of mind. ASTHO's Maggie Nilz shares how states can help support workforce resilience and capacity.
MAGGIE NILZ:
When states pass laws that create peer support programs or offer PTSD-related protections, they signal a long-term commitment to responder well-being. So, these policies are improving retention and morale by showing that the system supports its workforce, not just during crises, but throughout their careers.
JOHNSON:
Niles says that legislation in support of workforce pipeline investments, like tuition support and loan repayment, has also had a positive impact.
NILZ:
These policies reduce financial barriers to entry for individuals interested in careers like emergency medical services, nursing, or public health, while also supporting the institutions that treat them. So, in states like Kentucky and Oklahoma, these programs have been designed not just to fill current gaps, but to build a more robust and prepared workforce in the future, especially in areas where shortages are most acute.
JOHNSON:
Outside the legislative track, states can turn to other policy tools that allow them to make more rapid and targeted interventions.
NILZ:
Things like executive orders can't establish new task forces or offices, like Virginia's Office of First Responder Wellness, without waiting for the legislative cycle. Additionally, rulemaking allows agencies to update licensure or training standards efficiently, while grant programs like those in Michigan or Utah have provided flexible funding to local agencies and education providers.
JOHNSON:
Nilz authored an ASTHO blog on the subject. Read it by clicking the link in the show notes.
Congress has been busy these past few weeks, and so has ASTHO's government affairs team. Here to tell us what the flurry of activity means for public health is ASTHO's senior vice president for government affairs and public relations, Carolyn Mullen, in this week's View from Washington, D.C. report.
Carolyn, everyone's talking about the BBB. Tell us how that affects ASTHO members.
CAROLYN MULLEN:
It is a historic piece of legislation, first and foremost, because of the speed at which- by which Congress considered it. I was very skeptical that the Senate would be able to produce legislation before July Fourth, but here we are. It makes sweeping changes to Medicaid, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and food nutrition programs. I do encourage our members to review our Legislative Alert. It's eight pages long. It's pretty extensive, so, I'm not going to walk through all of the changes here today, but do encourage people to take a look at that. I want to emphasize, however, this does not impact discretionary programs. So, it does not impact CDC, it does not impact FDA, it does not impact NIH, et cetera. Those agencies are funded through a separate process known as our annual appropriations bills. Those pieces of legislation require 60 votes and will be considered later this summer, before October 1. So, really I wanted to emphasize this reconciliation bill, One Big, Beautiful Bill, made changes to mandatory programs, but it did not make changes to discretionary programs.
JOHNSON:
What's next for Congress?
MULLEN:
The Senate is currently considering a rescissions package, and this piece of legislation proposes to defund USAID, PBS, NPR, and it requires a simple majority vote in the Senate. The House has already passed this bill. We are watching it very closely, because my concern is, if this bill passes the Senate, what does it mean for the next round of rescissions? Could the administration put forward a proposal to cut funding from public health programs? So, we're watching this effort on foreign assistance programs very closely, and we'll certainly keep our listeners updated as it develops in the next couple weeks.
JOHNSON:
Are there any action items for public health officials in the upcoming weeks?
CAROLYN MULLEN:
So, Congress will be going on recess soon. August is a time where Congress goes back to their district. They call it 'work periods.' Now, this is really an opportunity for state public health officials to invite members of Congress to tour their laboratories, to really teach them about what public health does, day-in and day- out. So, I encourage our members to reach out to their members of Congress and try to set up those interactions, in an informal way. It's just a really important way to build relationships, so that when Congress is looking at legislation or Excel spreadsheets and making these really challenging budget decisions, they know that there are real people and real impact behind those numbers. So, bottom line is to use the next couple of weeks to set up meetings with members of Congress and get to know them a little bit better when they're back home.
JOHNSON:
And if members need help with that, Carolyn, can they reach out to your team?
MULLEN:
Simply, we're just a phone call away.
JOHNSON:
Thank you so much for joining us today. Happy Friday to you.
MULLEN:
You're welcome. Have a great weekend.
JOHNSON:
A new ASTHO resource aims to prevent adverse childhood experiences through economic support policies. This resource puts many helpful options like SNAP, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, child care subsidies, and more, all in one place. You can click the link in the show notes to learn more.
Finally, in membership news, ASTHO Past President, Dr. Anne Zink, has been named the co-leader of a new population health data initiative at the Yale School of Public Health. The initiative collects data from across the country for a comprehensive view of population health. More information is in the show notes.
That'll do it for today. We're back 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.
