NEHA NEWS
Blog Posts in May We also posted a blog in mid-May about the markup of the fis- cal year 2024 appropriations bill by the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. The blog explores the dif- fering views of both political parties regarding the budget, as well as areas where they are in agreement. Specifically, both parties agree there is a need to increase funding for food safety. Finally, we posted another blog in mid-May about the redesign of public health agencies within two states. States are beginning to recognize that public health is not meeting its goals and missions. One state, Iowa, is seeking to remedy this situation by combining its public health agencies. South Carolina, on the other hand, is trying a solution that divides its main public health agency. Both eorts impact the environmental health programs in these states. You can read these blogs, as well as all our past blogs, at www. neha.org/government-aairs-blog. Climate and Health Guides for Environmental Public Health Programs
• A Track 2 Development Base Grant with options to be a mentee, work on Standard 9, and/or attend retail training courses. • Optional Add-On Grants: » In addition to the options above, Track 2 applicants may also apply to be a mentor (instead of a mentee) and/or apply for a Special Projects Grant. » Existing Track 3 Maintenance and Advancement Base Grantees may apply to be a mentor or a mentee, request funds for retail training courses, and/or apply for a Special Projects Grant. The grant portal will close on October 11. Learn more at www. neha.org/retail-grants.
Government Aairs Updates By Doug Farquhar (dfarquhar@neha.org)
We continue to advocate for the envi- ronmental health profession at the fed- eral and state levels. Here is a summary of our recent activities to promote the interests of our members and the envi- ronmental health workforce. Learn more about our activities through our Government Aairs webpage at www. neha.org/advocacy.
State, local, tribal, and territorial environmental public health profes- sionals play a critical role in address- ing the health and well-being of their communities and environment. They are also well-positioned to address health inequities that are exacerbated by climate change and environmental injustice. Climate change impacts the health and well- being of humans, with the most vul- nerable populations bearing a large
Integrating Environmental Justice and Climate and Health Examples for Environmental Public Health Programs
Photo courtesy of Doug Farquhar.
Support of FDA Food Safety Eorts We met with congressional appropriators at the end of April to discuss the importance of FDA budgets for food safety to state, local, tribal, and territorial environmental health agencies. Our delegation was led by our director of Government Aairs and included sta who have worked within local and state health and agriculture agencies. We emphasized the value of the FDA Food Code and Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards in decreasing the occurrence of foodborne illness out- breaks. These programs make FDA one of the foremost federal agencies promoting public health. We met with 17 congressional oces from 13 dierent states. Support for the Environmental Health Profession We were back at the nation’s capital in early May to advocate for the inclusion of the environmental health workforce in the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program. We met with oce sta of Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI) to encourage her to sign on to the letter we are currently circulating through Con- gress that seeks support for our profession in the loan repayment program. We also spoke with oce sta of Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). Furthermore, we have reached out to several congressional oces from both parties and chambers to let the Health Resources & Services Administration know that Congress intended for environmental health to be included in the federal loan repayment for public health workers.
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION, 2023 720 S. Colorado Blvd., Ste. 105A, Denver, CO 80246-1910
portion of the burdens. Environmental public health professionals can directly engage with at-risk communities to integrate climate change and environmental justice considerations into their core pro- grams and services. Our new climate and health guide—Integrating Environmental Justice and Climate and Health: Examples for Envi- ronmental Public Health Programs—provides examples of how to integrate environmental justice and climate and health to improve health outcomes. The guide briefly explores the impact of climate change and on human health and environmental justice on health equity. It provides information on how to incorporate environmental justice into core programs and services, including use of the CORE (Cultivate com- prehensive health equity science, Optimize interventions, Reinforce and expand robust partnerships, and Enhance capacity and work- force engagement) Health Equity Science and Intervention Strategy from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and our Climate Health Adaptation and Mitigation Partnership (CHAMP) framework. The guide also provides specific information related to air qual- ity (ambient and indoor), emergency preparedness and response,
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July/August 2023 • Journal of Environmental Health
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