Statement on Cuts to Prevention Fund for Cures Act

“Earlier this month, Congress approved the 21st Century Cures Act, a large-scale piece of legislation that aims to speed the recovery of cures for deadly diseases. It includes funding for cancer research and mental health treatment, pays to fight the opioid epidemic, helps the Food and Drug Administration to speed up drug approvals and pushes for better use of technology in medicine.

“Although the Public Health Institute is fully supportive of many aspects of the bill, we are disheartened that yet again investments in public health are put last. Critical scheduled increases in the annual funding available through the Prevention and Public Health Fund (Prevention Fund) were used to offset this bill, therefore undermining necessary services and prevention programs that support communities and at-risk populations.

“As we move into the new Congress, we remain vehemently opposed to any proposal that would repeal, cut or divert current or future allocations of the Prevention Fund.”

_____________

Read our letter on behalf of the prevention fund, submitted at the end of November.