Rosen Co-Sponsors Legislation to Fully Fund Program Critical to Responding to and Preventing Future Pandemics

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), announced her co-sponsorship of the Public Health Funding Prevents Pandemics Act, legislation to restore full funding to the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF). Established as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the PPHF supports vital public health programs, including those involved in preventing and responding to pandemics like COVID-19, but has never been fully funded.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted our nation’s dire need to invest in pandemic prevention and public health response programs,” dijo el Senador Rosen. “This legislation will address disparities in our pandemic response efforts and help prevent future pandemics by fully funding the Prevention and Public Health Fund. I will continue working to improve our public health infrastructure and protect the well-being of all Nevadans.”

 BACKGROUND:  los Public Health Funding Prevents Pandemics Act would authorize and appropriate $2 billion in Fiscal Year 2022 and each subsequent fiscal year to fully restore the PPHF.

Under the ACA, funding for the PPHF was supposed to increase over time and reach $2 billion in Fiscal Year 2015. However, the PPHF has been repeatedly cut in lieu of other legislative priorities, and has never reached the $2 billion funding level. The lack of appropriated funds has prevented core public health programs from expanding, and prevented the development of new, innovative programs to prepare for and respond to pandemics and other unique public health threats that continue to arise.

los Public Health Funding Prevents Pandemics Act is endorsed by more than 150 public health groups, including Trust for America’s Health, AIDS Institute, American Heart Association, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, and Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.

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