- Star Grassroots Advocates
- In response to a recent action alert, PA education advocates have contacted 125 congressional offices thus far urging policymakers to prioritize PA education issues in the 116th Congress. Thank you for your leadership!
- Advancing PAEA’s Advocacy Agenda
- On January 29, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee held a hearing on the reauthorization of funding for community health centers and the National Health Service Corps. In written comments submitted to the committee, PAEA voiced its support of a 5-year reauthorization with a systematic doubling of NHSC funding to meet workforce demand.
- Throughout January, PAEA sent introduction letters to the nearly 100 freshmen lawmakers to offer the association’s congratulations on their recent election and outline the policy priorities of PA programs, faculty, and students.
- Health Care News in Washington
- In early January, Nancy Pelosi was elected Speaker of the House for the 116th Congress following Democrats taking the majority in the House of Representatives. Pelosi and House Democrats have identified protecting patients with pre-existing conditions and lowering the cost of prescription drugs as top health policy priorities.
- The longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history ended in late January following President Trump’s agreement to sign a three-week continuing resolution funding the government through mid-February. While most programs under the Department of Health and Human Services were funded through the end of FY19, the FDA, among other agencies, slowed core public health functions such as food inspections during the shutdown.
- Opportunities for Action
- To ensure that PA education issues are at the forefront of the policy agenda in the 116th Congress, it is critical that lawmakers hear from their constituents. If you have not already done so, please urge your representatives to prioritize PA education issues this Congress!
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