3/11/24: The President has signed the mandatory spending package passed by Congress, securing $4.4 billion in mandatory long-term funding moving forward for health centers, and other investments in the National Health Service Corps, and Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education workforce programs through the end of 2024!
🕙 Our work is not yet done! Yearly discretionary funding for the remainder of the 2024 fiscal year expires on Friday, March 22.
3/21/24: The bill text for the discretionary spending package has been released. Health center funding is kept level for the year. The National Health Service Corps would get $3 million more than the previous year. A vote is expected tomorrow in the House.
Call your Members of Congress TODAY -- we need to be urging them to vote YES to maintain health center funding!
Quick tips:
You will be calling one Representative from the congressional district of your work/home address, and the two Senators from your state. Push the "Click here to call" button for each of your 3 Members.
You do not need to be a policy expert. Talk from your experience and values. You live or work in their district, and that matters most to them. Share WHY Congress must pass health center funding when staff answers the phone.
Be kind to the staff who answer your call. They are responsible for sharing your feedback with the Member of Congress, and the call will likely be under a minute in length. If the lines are busy, you may have to leave a voicemail - that's okay!
End the call by asking for their commitment to VOTE YES on continued funding for Community Health Centers!
Topline talking points:
The House of Representatives and Senate must vote to provide yearly discretionary funding for Community Health Centers to provide stability to our essential healthcare homes. This funding allows us to:
Care for over 31.5 million patients regardless of insurance status;
Keep patients out of the emergency room by providing efficient preventive, coordinated care; and
Support more than 500,000 jobs across the country, offering opportunities to grow careers in health care. These jobs anchor our communities by generating strong economic output of nearly $85 billion.
Act now to call your Senators and Representatives. Tell them WHY we need to secure this discretionary funding for health centers and their constituents who #ValueCHCs!
Our movement's strength is in our people. Please share the link to this campaign with your family, colleagues, and friends.
With gratitude and hope,
The NACHC Grassroots Advocacy Team