On behalf of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), I write to urge the Energy & Commerce Committee to fully fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Community Health Centers (CHC) for five years, without using the Prevention and Public Health Fund as an offset. These programs are critical to the health and well-being of millions of Americans and at the same time, the Prevention Fund constitutes a significant (12%) portion of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention budget. We cannot afford to sacrifice cuts to any of these programs, including CHIP, CHCs and the Prevention Fund.
As the nation’s oldest and largest health policy and public health organization working with Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities, APIAHF provides a voice in the nation’s capital for AAs and NHPIs. APIAHF works toward health equity and health justice for all by influencing policy, mobilizing communities, and strengthening programs and organizations to improve the health of the over 20 million AAs and nearly 1 million NHPIs in the United States.