[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 59 (Wednesday, May 4, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E807]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              REPEALING PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH FUND

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                               speech of

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 13, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1217) to 
     repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund:

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to 
H.R. 1217, a bill that would repeal the Prevention and Public Health 
Fund established by the Affordable Care Act. The Prevention and Public 
Health Fund makes smart investments in state and community efforts to 
help the American people live longer, healthier lives.
  The Prevention and Public Health Fund represents a paradigm shift in 
the way we conceptualize health care in this country. Instead of 
focusing exclusively on treatment, the fund established by the 
Affordable Care Act recognizes the importance of prevention and 
encourages Americans to lead healthier lifestyles. All 50 states are 
already using these funds to target the obesity epidemic, HIV 
prevention, tobacco usage, and nutrition and physical activity.
  Not only does the Prevention and Public Health Fund promote healthier 
lifestyles, it also contributes to long-term savings in health care 
expenditures. As health care costs continue to rise, preventative care 
can help to rein in the out of control costs. Preventing chronic 
diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke does not only 
make sense from a public health perspective, it makes sense from an 
economic perspective as well.
  The United States spends $270 billion annually due to chronic 
illness. Chronic diseases are also responsible for 70 percent of deaths 
in America and 75 percent of health care expenditures. Working to curb 
unhealthy behaviors that lead to chronic disease such as tobacco and 
alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and poor diet will save lives 
and money.
  At a time when we are being forced to make tough decisions on 
government spending, targeting a program like the Prevention and Public 
Health Fund is misguided. Investing money into community-based 
preventative care initiatives that encourage people to engage in 
healthier behavior has the potential to save the country billions of 
dollars in costs associated with treatment of chronic disease.
  In California alone, the Department of Health and Human Services has 
already used the Prevention and Public Health Fund to grant $42.7 
million to organizations throughout the state that are engaged in 
prevention and wellness initiatives. Of this $42.7 million, $8.9 
million has been awarded to community and clinical prevention, $7.2 
million to public health infrastructure, and $26.4 million to primary 
care training.
  The cost of treating those with chronic illness totals billions of 
dollars annually and leads to billions of dollars in lost productivity. 
Preserving the overall health of the American people should be a 
priority of this body. The move by my colleagues on the other side of 
the aisle to repeal this important aspect of the Affordable Care Act is 
not only fiscally irresponsible, but it is also morally reprehensible.
  Developing programs that will encourage Americans of all ages to lead 
more active and healthy lifestyles will require significant investment 
at the community level. The Prevention and Public Health Fund does that 
by strengthening the capacity of state and local communities.
  Repealing the Prevention and Public Health Fund will threaten the 
well being of millions of Americans and I urge my colleagues to vote 
against this measure to repeal it.

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