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Legislation & Politics | ||
Letter to members of the Subcommittee on Labor Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies about the Defense Appropriations billDecember 13, 2005 Members of the Subcommittee on Labor Health and Human Services, Education Dear Representative/Senator: On behalf of the 1.4 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), I am writing with respect to Katrina supplemental appropriations and pandemic flu measures that are being debated as part of the Defense Appropriations bill. Support Adequate Pandemic Flu Preparedness Funding at the Local Level: We urge you to provide adequate funding for state and local health departments and hospitals to prepare for pandemic flu. In particular, we urge you to support funding of at least $600 million for state and local public health departments and $750 million for hospitals, as has been previously proposed in the Senate. Recently, the Government Accountability Office reported that few states have the capacity to evaluate, diagnose and treat 500 or more patients or to establish clinics quickly to immunize or treat large numbers of patients. All Americans should be assured that no matter where they live, their community will be as prepared as the next when pandemic flu strikes. A national threat like pandemic flu demands a full and adequate response from the federal government. Oppose Immunity for Vaccine Makers in the Absence of a Compensation Program: We have previously communicated our opposition to enacting liability protections for flu vaccine manufacturers without also providing a compensation program for individuals injured by a vaccination. Recent experience with vaccination programs has shown that success requires the public to have confidence that, should one suffer a serious injury, access to needed health care and income support will be assured. We urge you to reject the rush to enact liability protections until an adequate compensation program is designed. Support Health Care Grants to Safety Net Providers in the Gulf: With respect to the Katrina supplemental, we urge that you provide grants for health care facilities through the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to help establish health care services for citizens in the devastated areas, similar to the PHSA emergency grants provided to health care facilities impacted by the 9/11 attacks. Despite the enormous health care needs of the citizens of the region, many safety net providers do not have the financial resources to resume full operation or even make any services available. Unfortunately, much of their operational needs do not qualify for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance. Because health care is such a basic need of the citizens of the Gulf region, we urge that funding be directly provided to safety net health care institutions.
Charles M. Loveless |
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