The House Budget Committee approved a budget reconciliation bill today that would reduce the deficit by $78.9 billion over the next ten years on a party-line vote. Unfortunately, the bill would defund the Prevention and Public Health Fund. The Prevention and Public Health Fund supports the core public health functions of county health departments, including cost-effective and life-saving immunizations, early and rapid detection of disease and injury, and the ability of local health departments to tailor to community solutions.
RCRC has advocated to maintain funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund, and just this week sent a letter to the House Budget Committee requesting continued funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund. The bill will now go to the House floor, and could be considered as soon as the week of October 20, 2015.