Environmental health professionals are strategically positioned to identify and intervene to prevent public health and environmental health threats from a ect- ing local populations. As a nation, the U.S. spends over $3 tril- lion annually on healthcare but lags behind other developed countries in practically every health metric. The lack of investment into the environmental health system is costly for this nation. The top four messages we wanted the congressional sta we met with during Hill Day to remember were to: 1. Fund the National Center for Environ- mental Health within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at $300 million and to fund the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at $95 million. 2. Fund the Federal and State Initiative of the Food and Drug Administration— which supports food safety inspections— at $140 million and provide $35 million
for states to purchase equipment to serve healthier meals and improve food safety. 3. Encourage the Health Resources and Ser- vices Administration to include environ- mental health within the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program. 4. Share with the congressional oces the importance of environmental health to state and local public health agencies. The author J.K. Rowling said, “No story lives unless someone wants to listen. The stories we love best do live in us forever.” Please share your environmental health stories with your elected ocials and policy makers to improve the profession. Even if you are not comfortable speaking with these individuals, remember what Elmo said, “If you keep practicing, you can do anything.” The more we share our stories with elected ocials, policy mak- ers, fellow scientists, and the public, the greater the impact. When people think of how public health improves their lives, what comes to mind
is what environmental health ensures— clean air, food, and water along with a safe and healthy place to live, work, and play. Environmental health provides the biggest bang for the buck of all of the health fields. As Warren Bu ett stated, “Someone’s sit- ting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” Environ- mental health professionals have planted forests to protect the public. I look forward to seeing you at our 2023 Annual Educational Conference & Exhibi- tion in New Orleans, Louisiana, on July 31– August 3. Thank you for all of your hard work to protect the public every day. Please continue helping me spread the word that environmental health is public health. As Yoda sagely stated, “Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.”
gary.brown@eku.edu
www.cdpehs.com (800) 888-6035
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May 2023 • Journal of Environmental Health
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