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Contents
Background ..................................................................................................................................... 3
PART 1: Summit Webinar Series ................................................................................................... 4
PART 2: Call to Action................................................................................................................... 5
Virtual Advocacy Day ................................................................................................................. 5
Individual Senator/Congressperson Contact Information by State ............................................. 5
Other Key Leaders .................................................................................................................... 10
Sample Email ............................................................................................................................ 11
Sample Phone Message ........................................................................................................... 111
Sample Facebook Posts ............................................................................................................. 12
Sample Tweets .......................................................................................................................... 13
Additional Resources .................................................................................................................... 14
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Background
The Prevention and Public Health Fund, also known as the Prevention Fund or PPHF, was
established by the Affordable Care Act, and is the nation’s first mandatory funding stream
dedicated to prevention.1 The Prevention Fund is an investment in sustaining proven prevention
strategies, expanding funding streams for prevention and public health, and improving health
outcomes and quality of care. The Prevention Fund has financed a broad range of evidence-based
activities including community and clinical prevention initiatives, research and tracking, and
public health workforce and infrastructure investments.
The ACA authorized $18.75 billion for the fund between FY 2010 and FY 2022 and $2 billion
per year after that. Annual funding levels began at $500 million in FY 2010, and were meant to
rise to $2 billion per year by FY 2015.2 The mandatory nature was meant to protect the funding
stream from reduction or elimination during the annual appropriations process. Congress has
statutory authority to appropriate the Prevention Fund each year by passing legislation that
amends the ACA. As such, the Prevention Fund has been cut many times since it’s authorization
to offset federal costs. In 2012, Congress passed legislation to cut the Prevention Fund by $6.25
billion over nine years (FY 2013-FY 2021) to balance scheduled cuts to Medicare physician
payments.3 In FY 2015, sequestration cut $73 million from the Prevention Fund, leaving $927
million for prevention and public health activities.4 More recently, each of the 2017 healthcare
repeal bills have eliminated the fund altogether.
The Prevention Fund has played a critical role in helping Americans stay healthy, reducing the
risk of disease, and reducing health care costs. Quality, affordable medical care and community
prevention must work together. As the single largest investment in our nation’s health, the
Prevention Fund allows for transformative high-quality preventive care. Prevention has a proven
return on investment: Every $1 spent on prevention saves $5.60 in health spending, and every $1
spent on childhood vaccines saves $16.50 in future health care costs.4 Some 75% of all US health
care costs relate to preventable chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, yet only 3
cents of every dollar are spent on prevention.4 Prevention Fund activities have been
overwhelmingly successful at addressing the costly problem of American’s health illiteracy,
preventing chronic conditions in elderly and vulnerable populations, and bending the cost curve
in the American health care system.
The United States faces significant health and fiscal challenges that could be mitigated by a
better and more reliably funded public health system. The Prevention and Public Health Fund is
a vital part of the effort to create such a system.
1 Congress of the United States of America. (2010, March 23). Patient Protection and Afforable Care Act. Retrieved from Office of the Legislative Counsel U.S. House of Representatives: https://legcounsel.house.gov/Comps/Patient%20Protection%20And%20Affordable%20Care%20Act.pdf 2 Alliance for Health Policy. (2017, August 31). The Sourcebook: Essentials of Health Policy. Retrieved from Alliance for Health Policy: http://www.allhealthpolicy.org/sourcebook/affordable-care-act/ 3American Public Health Association. (2016, January 27). Prevention and Public Health Fund Dedicated to improving our nation’s public health. Retrieved from American Public Health Association: https://www.apha.org/~/media/files/pdf/factsheets/160127_pphf.ashx 4 American Public Health Association. (2012, October 18). Public Health Infographic. Retrieved from American Public Health Association: https://www.apha.org/news-and-media/multimedia/infographics/public-health-infographic
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As budget negotiations continue we encourage both organizations and individuals to use
Facebook, Twitter, email and phone to contact the US Congress and be heard!
For a unified message, please use the following hashtag throughout the day on your social media
platforms: #ProtectPrevention
PART 1: Summit Webinar Series
A Bipartisan Vision for Advancing Community Prevention: Communicating Stories and
Successes to Influence Local and National Change
Wednesday, September 20, 2017 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. EDT
This year’s priority advocacy issue for the Advocacy Summit is prevention in public health
policy. Over the last decade, deep financial cuts to prevention and public health have
posed threats to our communities’ basic health and social needs. Now more than ever, it is
crucial to work together to elevate and communicate community prevention successes that
advance health equity as a critical imperative. This webinar will ground participants in
approaches that support healthy and equitable communities, and highlight opportunities to
advance comprehensive prevention efforts through policy change. Participants will learn about
effective communication approaches for engaging local and federal stakeholders, and discuss
strategies for effective story telling that will continue building momentum for prevention and
public health initiatives.
View the recording
Advocacy 101- Preparing for the 2017 Advocacy Summit
Thursday, September 28, 2017 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT
The focus of this year’s public health advocacy agenda is prevention in health policy. This
particular webinar focuses on core advocacy skills that students, faculty members, and all public
health professionals can use to advocate for public health priorities at the state and local level.
This webinar will provide faculty and student members very “action oriented” steps so that they
are not merely learning about policy advocacy strategies, but acquiring specific guidance and
examples of how policy changes can be initiated in their own work. It will provide examples of
how participants can inspire their peers to action and get decision-makers to change policy.
View the recording
Applying Lessons Learned from the 2017 Advocacy Summit
Monday, October 30, 2017 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT
The theme of this year’s Advocacy Summit is Equipping and Empowering Advocates for Public
Health, with a keen focus on the issue of prevention in health policy. This webinar will reflect on
the tools, tactics, and skills students, faculty members, and all public health professionals gained
during the Summit, and how they can use those skills on a local and state level. The purpose of
this webinar is for participants to be able to apply the lessons learned to advance health
education.
Register
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PART 2: Call to Action
Virtual Advocacy Day
Monday, October 23rd is SOPHE's Virtual Advocacy Day. This weekend, more than 100 of your
public health colleagues will come to Capitol Hill to network and learn new advocacy skills at
the 19th Annual Advocacy Summit. There is much work to do to further strengthen chronic
disease prevention and health promotion funding and programs. As SOPHE continues to
advocate for prevention, we invite you to join your public health colleagues on the Hill by
participating in our Virtual Advocacy Day to #ProtectPrevention.
JOIN the #ProtectPrevention Virtual Advocacy Day 2017 Thunderclap campaign.
Thunderclap helps amplify social media messages by connecting partners and friends to share
the same message at the same time through social media platforms.
Legislator Outreach
Fill elected officials' news feeds with demands to support the Prevention and Public Health Fund
and protect it from any proposed cuts.
We ask that you take to Facebook, Twitter, email and phone to let Congress know how important
the Prevention Fund is to you. We urge you to contact your Congressional representation and
flood their news feeds by tweeting at them, posting on their Facebook pages, sending emails and
calling their offices as a unified #ProtectPrevention voice. We have provided contact
information, including social media, below for key offices. Also, a list of sample Facebook posts,
tweets, emails and phone message have been provided.
Individual Senator Contact Information by State
Call and/or email your two Senators. Click here to look up your Senators’ contact information or
call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and the operator will connect you directly to
the Senate office you request.
Individual House Contact Information by State
Call and/or email your Congressperson. Click here to look up your Congressperson's contact
information or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and the operator will connect
you directly to the House office you request.
Other Key Leaders
Members of the Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education,
and Related Agencies Subcommittee
Chairman: Roy Blunt (R - MO)
Phone: (202) 224-5721
Email: http://www.blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form?p=contact-roy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorBlunt
Twitter: @RoyBlunt
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Ranking Member: Patty Murray (D-WA)
Phone: (202) 224-2621
Email: http://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactme
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pattymurray
Twitter: @PattyMurray
Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Phone: (202) 224-6521
Email: http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-jerry
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerrymoran
Twitter: @JerryMoran
Richard Shelby (R-AL)
Phone: (202) 224-5744
Email: http://www.shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/emailsenatorshelby
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RichardShelby
Twitter: @SenShelby
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Phone: (202) 224-5054
Email: http://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-me
Twitter: @SenThadCochran
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Phone: (202) 224-4944
Email: http://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senatorlamaralexander
Twitter: @senAlexander
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Phone: (202) 224-5972
Email: http://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-senator-graham
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USSenatorLindseyGraham
Twitter: @GrahamBlog
James Lankford (R-OK)
Phone: (202) 224-5754
Email: https://www.lankford.senate.gov/contact/email
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorLankford
Twitter: @SenatorLankford
John Kennedy (R-LA)
Phone: (202) 224-4623
Email: https://www.kennedy.senate.gov/content/contact-senator
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnKennedyLouisiana/
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Twitter: @SenJohnKennedy
Marco Rubio(R-FL) Phone: (202) 224-4774
Email: https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorMarcoRubio
Twitter: @SenRubioPress
Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
Phone: (202) 224-6472
Email: http://www.capito.senate.gov/contact/hear-from-shelley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senshelley
Twitter: @sencapito
Richard Durbin (D - IL)
Phone: (202) 224-2152
Email: www.durbin.senate.gov/contact/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorDurbin
Twitter: @SenatorDurbin
Jack Reed (D-RI)
Phone: (202) 224-4642
Email: https://www.reed.senate.gov/contact/email
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenJackReed
Twitter: @SenJackReed
Joe Manchin (D-WV)
Phone: (202) 224-3954
Email: https://www.manchin.senate.gov/contact-joe/email-joe
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoeManchinIII
Twitter: @Sen_JoeManchin
Jeanne Shaheen (R-NH)
Phone: (202) 224-2841
Email: http://www.shaheen.senate.gov/contact/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorShaheen
Twitter: @SenatorShaheen
Jeff Merkley (R-OR)
Phone: (202) 224-3753
Email: http://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffmerkley
Twitter: @SenJeffMerkley
Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Phone: (202) 224-4654
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Email: http://www.schatz.senate.gov/contact
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenBrianSchatz
Twitter: @SenBrianSchatz
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Phone: (202) 224-5653
Email: http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/contact
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senatortammybaldwin
Twitter: @SenatorBaldwin
Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Phone: (202) 224-4041
Email: https://www.murphy.senate.gov/contact/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisMurphyCT/
Twitter: @SenMurphyOffice
Members of the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and
Related Agencies Subcommittee
Chairman: Tom Cole (R-OK)
Phone: (202) 225-6165
Email: https://coleforms.house.gov/contact/default.aspx
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TomColeOK04
Twitter: @TomColeOK04
Ranking Member: Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Phone: (202) 225-3661
Email: https://forms.house.gov/delauro/webforms/contact_form_email.shtml
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CongresswomanRosaDeLauro
Twitter: @rosadelauro
Mike Simpson (R-ID)
Phone: (202) 225-5531
Email: http://simpson.house.gov/contact/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Simpson/96007744606
Twitter: @CongMikeSimpson
Steve Womack (R-AR)
Phone: (202) 225-4301
Email: http://womack.house.gov/contact/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepSteveWomack
Twitter: @rep_stevewomack
Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)
Phone: (202) 225-3271
Email: https://fleischmann.house.gov/contact-me
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/repchuck
Twitter: @repchuck
Andy Harris (R-MD)
Phone: (202) 225-5311
Email: https://harris.house.gov/contact-me/email-me
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndyHarrisMD
Twitter: @repandyharrismd
Martha Roby (R-AL)
Phone: (202) 224-3424
Email: https://roby.house.gov/contact-me
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Representative.Martha.Roby
Twitter: @repmartharoby
Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)
Phone: (202) 225-3536
Email: https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/contact/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herrerabeutler
Twitter: @HerreraBeutler
John Moolenaar (R-MI)
Phone: (202) 225-3561
Email: https://moolenaar.house.gov/contact/email
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepMoolenaar
Twitter: @RepMoolenaar
Lucille Royball-Allard (D-CA)
Phone: (202) 225-1766
Email: http://roybal-allard.house.gov/contact/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepRoybalAllard
Twitter: @reproybalallard
Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Phone: (202) 225-2661
Email: https://barbaralee.house.gov/contact/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepBarbaraLee
Twitter: @repbarbaralee
Mark Pocan (D-WI)
Phone: (202) 225-2906
Email: https://pocan.house.gov/contact
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/repmarkpocan
Twitter: @repmarkpocan
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Katherine Clark (D-MA)
Phone: (202) 225-2836
Email: https://katherineclark.house.gov/index.cfm/email-me
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CongresswomanClark
Twitter: @ RepKClark
Additional Key Offices
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Phone: (202) 224-2823
Email: https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/contact
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenBlumenthal
Twitter: @SenBlumenthal
Al Franken (D-MN)
Phone: (202) 224-5641
Email: https://www.franken.senate.gov/?p=email_al
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sen.Franken
Twitter: @AlFranken
John McCain (R-AZ)
Phone: (202) 224-2235
Email: https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnmccain
Twitter: @SenJohnMcCain
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Phone: (202) 224-2523
Email: https://www.collins.senate.gov/contact
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susancollins
Twitter: @SenatorCollins
Lisa Murkowski (R-AL)
Phone: (202)-224-6665
Email: https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/contact/email
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenLisaMurkowski/
Twitter: @lisamurkowski
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Phone: (202) 224-4343
Email: https://www.paul.senate.gov/connect/email-rand
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorRandPaul
Twitter: @RandPaul
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Sample Email
Click here to send an action alert to your Congressional representatives.
Dear [Senator],
As a constituent and member of the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), I am writing
to ensure that the Prevention & Public Health Fund (PPHF), established by the Affordable Care
Act, is not eliminated.
Rates of chronic disease in America have reached staggering levels, and the continued support of
PPHF is critical to many of our citizens. Racially and ethnically minority groups, low-income
Americans, and our tribal communities are disproportionately burdened by chronic disease.
Chronic disease is now responsible for seven out of 10 deaths and equates to approximately 86
percent of health care costs.
Programs that currently receive funding from PPHF address obesity, diabetes, smoking
cessation, cancer screenings, access to vaccinations, and access to healthy food. Since its
inception, the Prevention Fund has provided over $6 billion in resources to address specific
health needs at both the state and community level to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, two
American Indian Tribes and eight U.S. territories. Supported by PPHF are several extremely
important chronic disease prevention initiatives:
• The Chronic Disease Self-Management program supports help older adults and adults
with disabilities from underserved areas and populations to better manage their chronic
conditions.
• The Diabetes Prevention program implements diabetes prevention and control strategies
within state and local organizations that address primary prevention.
• The Office of Smoking and Health is a program awarded to CDC and raises awareness of
the effects of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke in areas of higher
prevalence of tobacco use.
• Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) is a community-focused
program to improve linkages between the health care system and minority communities
with unique social, economic, and cultural circumstances.
• The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program targets surveillance capacity at the state and city
level to prevent childhood lead poisoning.
I strongly urge you and other members of Congress to continue the robust prevention funding
and chronic disease prevention programs that are currently in place.
Sincerely,
[Your name], [Your city]
Sample Phone Message
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Sample Message 1:
Hi, my name is [your name] and I am calling from [your city, state]. I am calling to express my
support for full funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund. I expect our Congress to
work in a bipartisan manner to make the American health care system stronger, including
strengthening programs focused on prevention funded by the Prevention and Public Health Fund.
This funding stream can save thousands of lives and billions of dollars in healthcare costs over
the next five years. I strongly oppose any legislation that would rescind funding for this critical
source of funding. Thank you for your time.
Sample Message 2:
Hi, my name is [your name] and I am calling from [your city, state]. I am calling to express my
support for the Prevention and Public Health Fund. The Prevention and Public Health Fund is
America's mandatory funding stream that invests in keeping Americans healthy and preventing
costly chronic conditions. This program improves the health of thousands of Americans coping
with chronic illness. This especially true for our low-income Americans and our communities of
color. I encourage [Senator/Representative] to urge [his/her] colleagues to protect the lives of
thousands and protect the Prevention and Public Health Fund. Thank you for your time.
Sample Facebook Posts
Please post directly on your Senator’s or Congressperson’s Facebook page. Make sure to include
#ProtectPrevention in your posts.
Rates of chronic disease in America have reached staggering levels. Congress, we urge you to
work in a bipartisan manner to make the American health care system stronger and to save lives.
That includes strengthening prevention programs funded by the Prevention and Public Health
Fund. PPHF can save thousands of lives and billions of dollars in healthcare costs over the next
five years. #ProtectPrevention
The health care expenditures that result from caring for those with chronic health conditions
account for 86 percent of our nation’s health care spending. It is therefore virtually impossible to
envision how efforts to control health care spending can be successful if we do not first invest in
evidence-based, population-wide interventions to prevent the incidence of chronic disease.
#ProtectPrevention
The burden of chronic disease is not equally shared, but rather disproportionately felt by racial
and ethnical minority groups, low-income Americans, and our tribal communities. Very effective
programs funded by the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF) are available to improve the
health of our citizens and communities. PPHF enables these programs to save thousands of lives
and billions of dollars in healthcare expenditures. #ProtectPrevention
The Prevention and Public Health Fund has the potential to improve health outcomes and reduce
costs. #ProtectPrevention
The Prevention Fund has played a critical role in helping Americans stay healthy by reducing the
risk of disease and reducing health care costs. Quality, affordable medical care and community
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prevention must work together. As the single largest investment in our nation’s health, the
Prevention Fund allows for transformative high-quality preventive care. #ProtectPrevention
We know that the PPHF has changed thousands of lives. Why would we stop supporting it?
#ProtectPrevention
Sample Tweets
Tweet at Senators and Congresspersons by using their Twitter handle. Also, please use
#ProtectPrevention in your tweets. If the Twitter handle is at the beginning of the tweet, you
must place a “.” as the first character of the tweet will not show up as public. Click here for a list
of all US Senator Twitter accounts.
.[@SenatorTwitterHandle] Ensure continued financial support for #PPHF to help eliminate
chronic illness for Americans. #ProtectPrevention
.[@SenatorTwitterHandle] #PPHF provides 100% of the funding for the childhood lead
prevention program. #ProtectPrevention
.[@SenatorTwitterHandle] Prevention Fund activities help prevent chronic conditions. Congress,
please #ProtectPrevention!
.[@SenatorTwitterHandle] The Prevention and Public Health Fund keeps critical safety net
programs alive. Congress, please #ProtectPrevention!
.[@SenatorTwitterHandle] Chronic disease in America has reached staggering levels. Help our
citizens help themselves. #ProtectPrevention
.[@SenatorTwitterHandle] Prevention has a proven return on investment! Congress, please
#ProtectPrevention!
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Additional Advocacy Resources
Special Report: How Healthy is your Congressional District?
Prevention and Public Health Fund State Snapshots
A Funding Crisis for Public Health and Safety: State-by-State Public Health Funding and Key
Health Facts, 2017
Special Analysis: Prevention and Public Health Fund State Allocations