The only thing standing between Dr. Murthy becoming Surgeon General is having the Senate vote on his confirmation. With the end of the Congressional term fast approaching, the window to act is getting smaller.
If he isn’t confirmed by the end of the year, then the process must begin again and the country will continue to go without a Surgeon General. In these times of health crises, we need a Surgeon General.
We need YOU to take action TODAY and tell your senators to support Dr. Murthy as Surgeon General and vote to confirm him now.
CALL: (202) 224-3121
Or CLICK HERE to find your Senators’ offices, contact information and send them a letter.
Tell your Senators the following message:
“Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME/ORGANIZATION] and I am calling to strongly urge Senator [NAME OF SENATOR] to SUPPORT Dr. Vivek Murthy’s confirmation as Surgeon General. Our country has not had a Surgeon General in more than a year, and during a time of public health crises, it is essential to have the leadership of a Surgeon General.
I ask that the Senator vote to confirm Dr. Murthy as Surgeon General so he can begin working immediately to protect the health of our nation.”
Why the Surgeon General Matters
The Surgeon General is the nation’s doctor, helping to build the bridge to better knowledge, improved access to preventive care and overall health and wellness.
For over two decades, APIAHF has worked to advance the health and well-being of AAs and NHPIs across the U.S. We have worked at the federal, state and local levels with our strong community partners. We know that representation in our government is critical to ensuring that the needs of our communities are addressed and met.
Obesity: Obesity is one of the most pressing health challenges and yet, far too often AAs and NHPIs are considered not at risk. NHPIs are 3.7 times more likely to be obese than AAs and Filipinos are 70 percent more likely to be obese compared to other Asian subgroups. Obesity rates are increasing across the board for AAs and NHPIs along with high rates of heart disease and diabetes.
Mental Health Awareness: One in five Asian American male teens have considered suicide and Asian American young women have some of the highest rates of depression. As a whole, AAs have some of the lowest rates of utilizing mental health services. Better awareness and connection to care can save lives.
Tobacco: Smoking increases the risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke —the leading causes of death for Asian Americans.
Dr. Murthy can help change this conversation. As Surgeon General, Dr. Murthy would use his position as the face of our nation’s health and his bully pulpit to raise awareness about the issues impacting AAs and NHPIs.