Morning Zen
Health Leaders Call for National Mobilization Opposing Cuts to Programs that Support America’s Women, Children and Families on October 26
October 24, 2011
The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, the National WIC Association, and the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association invite you to join them in an unprecedented National Mobilization for Women, Children and Families on October 26. The goal is to flood Capitol Hill with a unified message opposing MCH and women’s health program cuts.
In the next few weeks, Congress will be considering additional cuts to critical discretionary health programs for women, children and families that could exceed $1 billion in 2012 alone. Elected officials need to hear a clear message that these cuts are unacceptable.
Share this simple message: you oppose any efforts cut core programs for women, children and families, including Title V, WIC and Title X.
Other key points to share include:
- Women and children should not be at the forefront of any discussion to reduce the federal deficit. We urge you oppose any efforts to cut core programs for women, children and families, including Title V, WIC and Title X and instead take a balanced approach that does not start with cuts to programs for women and children.
- These programs provide the foundation for efforts to improve the health of women and children in our state. Further cuts will devastate state and local programs serving pregnant women, babies, children and children with special health care needs.
- Ask if the the senator/congressman/congresswoman will support our cause!
Use our Congressional Search Engine to find members of your Congressional delegation. Then, send a follow-up e-mail or fax using the messages above.
Register for Pre-Event Webinar on October 25 at 3:30 p.m. EST
- Join the Health Leaders above for a review of their main messages and share tips and best practices about communicating key messages. Register here for a pre-mobilization webinar on Tuesday, October 25 at 3:30 p.m. EST.
Elected officials need to hear a clear message that these cuts are unacceptable. That is why the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, the National WIC Association, and the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association are inviting us to join them in an unprecedented National Mobilization for Women, Children and Families on October 26. Register today!
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT
In the next few weeks, Congress will be making budget decisions that will affect funding for critical public health efforts for years to come. These decisions could threaten the very existence of some public health programs, and those serving women, children and families are highly vulnerable. The U.S. House of Representatives is currently considering proposals to cut over $1.3 billion for maternal and child health efforts in FY 2012 alone – $700 million cut from WIC; $299 million and elimination of Title X family planning grants; $350 million and elimination of Title V home visiting program funds; as well as elimination of $1 billion in the Prevention and Public Health Fund and $1.2 billion for community health centers. A Senate Committee also recently passed an appropriations bill including a $50 million cut to the Title V MCH Block Grant.