- Star Grassroots Advocates
- As 2024 comes to an end, the PAEA Government Relations team would like to thank our Grassroots Action Network (GAN) supporters who sent over 1,700 email messages to members of Congress across 4 online advocacy campaigns throughout the past year. Your participation makes all the difference in achieving the Association’s policy goals on behalf of PA education, and we look forward to working together again in 2025!
- Advancing PAEA’s Advocacy Agenda
- The PAEA Government Relations team has been drafting welcome letters for newly appointed members of the Trump administration that will oversee federal departments and agencies relevant to PA education. The letters provide an overview of the PA profession and PA education and identify ways to collaborate on shared priorities.
- The PAEA Government Relations team has begun the process of preparing introductory letters to the 75 new freshman members joining the 119th Congress. The letters will outline PAEA’s legislative aims and will be distributed as part of a meeting request.
- Health Care News in Washington
- On December 9, Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02) was selected to serve as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee for the 119th Congress.
- On December 11, President Biden signed into law the FAFSA Deadline Act, a bipartisan bill that makes October 1 the official launch date of the FAFSA each year. The bill also directs the Department of Education (ED) to certify by September 1 that the FAFSA will be ready by October 1 and requires that ED testify before congress if the FAFSA launch deadline is not met to explain why.
- On December 12, Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) was selected to serve as the chair of the House Committee on Education and Workforce for the 119th Congress.
- On December 20, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) that temporarily extends funding for all 12 of the appropriations bills at fiscal year (FY) 2024 levels through March 14, 2025. The CR also included a short-term extension for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC).
- Opportunities for Action
- Your voice matters in advocating for legislation that will positively impact the future of PA education and address healthcare disparities in underserved communities. Please contact your elected officials in Congress and urge them to support the Primary Care Team Education Centers Act.
- To decrease disparities in access to care and ensure there are enough providers to meet patient demand nationwide, reach out to your elected representatives today to advocate for increased funding for all Title VII health workforce development programs for fiscal year 2025.
- If you are committed to improving PA education as well as access to care for vulnerable patients, contact your elected representatives in Congress and tell them to support the Rural Health Preceptor Tax Fairness Act.
- As we face the impending expiration of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) mandatory authorization, we need your help to fight for solutions that safeguard against growing workforce shortages. Please contact your representatives today to urge them to preserve the current NHSC pipeline and field strength through a robust mandatory funding level.
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