NASW Government Relations Action Alert

May 8, 2006

House Budget Lacks Adequate Funds for Health and Human Services

Issue

The health of all Americans is at risk from an unprecedented range of threats, including: chronic diseases and disabilities, infectious and food borne illnesses, biological and chemical terrorism, mental and substance abuse disorders, natural disasters, and a shortage of healthcare providers, including professional social workers. And yet, last year, Congress cut funding for public health programs by over $1 billion, many of which continue to struggle to respond to sharply increased service demands.

Thanks to the intensive advocacy by social workers and coalition partners, the U.S. Senate passed a budget resolution bill that added more than $10 billion in FY 2007 domestic discretionary spending to the level recommended by the President, thus eliminating the need for cuts in this area. The House is still negotiating their version of the budget resolution. Its current plan is short several billion dollars necessary to prevent a new round of deep cuts in health and human service and education programs.

Currently, the House Republican moderates are working with GOP congressional leaders on a deal to add an additional $4 billion for FY 2007 for health, education and social services programs within the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill, if the moderates would support the leadership’s final Budget Resolution. Some moderates have already relented and will vote for the leadership’s offer. However, a few others are remaining firm that $7.158 billion is needed because the $4 billion offer only flat funds current programs from the FY 2006 level. The leadership offer would mean that many programs that were cut deeply in FY 2006 have no chance to recover funding and new spending will be virtually impossible to secure. 

Action Needed

The House could take up its version of the budget at any time they reach an agreement.

Call your Members of Congress through the Capitol Switchboard (202-224-3121).

Send a pre-drafted letter to your member through NASW’s Congress Web at www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/grassroots/congressweb.asp.

Message

• Below is a message for House members who are GOP moderates:

“I am a constituent, professional social worker, and member of the National Association of Social Workers. I am alarmed about the House budget priorities. Please continue to push the House leadership for a budget resolution with the full $7.158 billion that Reps. Castle and Johnson insist is necessary to restore funding for critical health and education programs. The budget resolution must reject the President’s deep cuts to domestic discretionary programs and instead fund these programs at levels equivalent to the greater level provided in the Senate budget resolution.”

” Without additional resources on this scale, our nation’s public health system – the continuum of medical research, prevention, treatment and training programs – cannot respond adequately to the threats, challenges and opportunities facing the nation. Our request does not include, but is over and above, the Administration’s anticipated funding increase for pandemic flu preparedness in the FY 2007 budget request.”

Timing

Since your Representative is on this list, please make every effort to contact him or her within the next day or two. Thank you for your advocacy.

Moderate Republicans

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