Legislation/Advocacy

HB 1731 HD 1 will cut funds to the Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund by 84%. The Trust Fund receives 12.5% of the Tobacco Settlement moneysundefinedthese funds support community programs that help smokers quit and educate youth about the dangers of tobacco use. HB 1731 HD 1 will cut that funding to 2%!

HB 1731 HD 1 has crossed over to the State Senate and was referred to the Senate Health Committee and then to the Ways and Means Committee.

Advocates should get ready to phone Senate Health Committee members to ask them to keep funding tobacco prevention and control. Advocates can contact the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i at 946-6851 or www.tobaccofreehawaii.org to learn more and get involved.

For more information:  HB 1731, HD 1 and Cuts to Funding

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HB 1731 HD 1 is now online
Measure Title:  Relating to the Hawai‘i Tobacco Settlement Special Fund
Description:  Reallocates 2 years from 07/01/09-06/30/2011, distribution of monies in the Hawai‘i tobacco settlement special fund, including depositing 25% into the state general fund.

For more information:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/list/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1731

The President's Forum of Health Reform
If you're interested in following the discussions at the Forum, visit the blog on the White House website (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/03/05/Live-blogging-the-White-House-Forum-on-Health-Reform/), which includes a live video stream of the Forum's breakout sessions.

For more information:  The President's Forum

Act Today: Help Increase Federal Health Funding
Ensure passage of the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Package and increase federal public health funding.
Please contact your senators today and urge them to support the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Package. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) has expressed concern that there are not enough votes yet in the Senate to pass the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill (H.R. 1105).
 
The omnibus package currently contains a $938 million funding increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as funding increases for other public health agencies and initiatives. Unlike stimulus funding which is a one-time infusion, this funding increase would raise the annual baseline budgets for NIH and the other public health agencies.
 
For more information:  Federal Health Funding