Previous Story
DPH asks for retention of $131M CDC funding
|
Posted on Apr 20 2006
In order to keep federal funding worth at least $100,000, the Department of Public Health wrote yesterday to two U.S. senators, asking for the retention of the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant Program.
DPH Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez wrote to Sen. Arlen Specter, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, and to ranking member Sen. Tom Harkin.
In the past, the appropriated budget level for the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention’s Preventive Health and Health Services Block Program was $131 million; in the last two years, this has been reduced, resulting in a $50,000 appropriation for the CNMI.
Villagomez said the figure may appear small but this amount is critical to the Commonwealth’s health service because the money helps fund different health programs.
“I strongly believe that Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant Program is a wise use of federal funds,” said Villagomez, adding that eliminating the program will force the department to eliminate and drastically reduce some of its most important public health activities.
