Support NEHA in Opposing Budget Cuts to Environmental Health - 2/28/2011

Please Support NEHA’s Strong Opposition to Proposed Budget Cuts that Impact Environmental Health

The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) is deeply concerned about the Continuing Resolution and FY 2011 budget recommendations that have been proposed for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Additionally, NEHA is strongly opposing the FY 2012 CDC budget recommendations as presented in both the president’s budget and the majority report released by the House Appropriations Committee. The scope and magnitude of the proposed cuts will adversely affect the ability of environmental health programs at the federal, state, and local levels to provide basic and essential services. In addition, much of the proposed cutting threatens to reverse the gains that have been made to safeguard our environment and protect human health. Many proposed cuts also take aim at the very programs where future environmental health needs are likely to be the greatest.

NEHA joins a growing number of environmental, scientific, and public health professionals in objecting to this significant cutback on the programs needed to protect the health and safety of the American people. In response, NEHA has sent three letters to 48 Senators and Congressional Representatives who serve on the appropriation subcommittees and have jurisdiction over CDC and EPA; two were sent in opposition to the CDC and EPA proposed budget cuts, respectively, and one was sent in strong support of the funding recommendations contained in the President’s budget for both FY 2011 and FY 2012 concerning the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (The president has recommended expanded funding for food safety work within the FDA.)

We urge you at this time to enhance the strength of the positions taken by NEHA by contributing your voice to this policy debate. In other words, we would appreciate it if you would also contact your Congressional delegation to express the same kinds of concerns that NEHA has. (To view the three positions taken by NEHA, please click here. )

You can write to your U.S. Senator and Representative today by visiting www.house.gov and entering your zip code, and www.senate.gov and selecting your state. Contact information and guidance on how to communicate with these individuals can be found on their websites. Each of these websites also contains information about the membership of the relevant sub-committees of the appropriation committee in the senate and house.* If one of your Representatives or Senators sits on one of these appropriations subcommittees, it becomes even more important that you contact them as they are directly involved in these crucial budget decisions.

Additionally, telephone calls can be a powerful tool in communicating with members of Congress. To contact the U.S. Capitol directly, call 202-224-3121.

Please join NEHA in standing up for our profession!
• *For EPA: House and Senate- Appropriation Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and related agencies
• *For FDA AND CDC: House and Senate- Appropriation Subcommittee on Health, Labor Education