ASCP Endorses Legislation to Address Public Health Infrastructure

ASCP has endorsed the Public Health Infrastructure Saves Lives Act, which is intended to address chronic underfunding of the state, local, tribal and territorial public health infrastructure. The legislation seeks to ensure a dedicated investment in foundational public health capabilities and workforce.

The program would award grants to state and territorial health departments, and to local health departments serving over 500,000 people, based on a formula determined by factors including population size, burden of preventable disease and disability, and poverty rate.

The measure, introduced by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), would also help address shortages in the public health workforce, which saw the loss of almost half of its workforce between 2017 and 2021.

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