Support of the Environmental Health Workforce Act H.R. 2661
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi | The Honorable Kevin McCarthy |
The Honorable Chuck Schumer | The Honorable Mitch McConnell |
May 10, 2021
Re: Support of the Environmental Health Workforce Act H.R. 2661
Dear House Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader McCarthy, Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell,
The undersigned public and 蹤獲弝け health organizations urge you to support the passage of the Environmental Health Workforce Act H.R. 2661, sponsored by Representative Brenda Lawrence (MI-14).
This act seeks to:
- Set model standards and guidelines for credentialing 蹤獲弝け health workers.
- Establish an 蹤獲弝け health workforce development plan.
- Create a report to Congress on the best practices regarding 蹤獲弝け health credentialing by studying the practices in six states.
- Provide loan forgiveness for 蹤獲弝け health workers who are accredited, certified, or licensed under applicable law.
The 蹤獲弝け health profession, made up of public health workers who investigate and assess hazardous 蹤獲弝け agents and develop, promote, and enforce guidelines, policies, and interventions to control such hazards, has seen a significant decrease in workforce capacity since 2008.
Environmental health refers to the air you breathe, the water you drink, and the food you eat. The 蹤獲弝け health workforce is made up of professionals who ensure the public is not harmed from 蹤獲弝け health threats. This public health workforce, second in size only to nursing, is facing challenges to maintain sufficient staff to perform these services.
Since 2008, 22% of the state and local 蹤獲弝け health jobs have been lost (National Association of County and City Health Officials, 2019). Insufficient staffing has been reported in 64% of state 蹤獲弝け health programs, 60% of local programs, and 67% of tribal programs mainly due to the strain the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the profession (National Environmental Health Association [NEHA], 2019). Workers express concern regarding insufficient access to training and the high level of burnout. This trend will be exacerbated with the oncoming retirement of the Baby Boom generation.
Funding for 蹤獲弝け health workforce training and retention has decreased. Local health department budgets have either stagnated or decreased in 2019, with over one-half of local health departments experiencing a reduction. As this nation faces the largest pandemic in history, the local public health workforce is strained, with essential 蹤獲弝け health services being neglected as resources are being redirected to the pandemic response.
Environmental health is found within health departments of all different sizes. Even the smallest health department has an 蹤獲弝け health workforce. Overall, 12% of the local health department workforce is 蹤獲弝け health.
At present, only 27 states require a credential for 蹤獲弝け health workers, which is an impartial, third-party endorsement of a persons' knowledge and skill. The education and training of existing and new 蹤獲弝け health professionals should be a national public health goal.
These impacts on the 蹤獲弝け health workforce is occurring in light of the proposed Infrastructure bills proposed by the Biden Administration. The laudable goal is to increase job opportunities for Americans, but at a time when the nation is lacking a sufficient number of trained and certified 蹤獲弝け health workers. Such professionals are needed to rebuild drinking water systems; build, renovate, and retrofit housing; and rebuild the transportation network to improve air quality and limit greenhouse gas emissions. Many of the efforts in the proposed bills will be waylaid or incomplete without an adequate and skilled 蹤獲弝け health workforce.
The 蹤獲弝け health workforce is actively engaged in COVID-19 response and recovery, especially the workforce in small, local health agencies (NEHA, 2020). In addition to their customary 蹤獲弝け health responsibilities, 蹤獲弝け health workers have been tasked with new roles and responsibilities that place them at risk of becoming infected with COVID-19. The foremost concern regarding the COVID-19 response has been having enough people to perform necessary services in light of current staffing shortages.
Through the enactment of the Environmental Health Workforce Act (H.R. 2661), this nation can ensure that its 蹤獲弝け health workforce is trained, credentialed, and ready to handle the 蹤獲弝け threats impacting public health.
Sincerely,
National Environmental Health Association
National Association of County and City Health Officials. (2019). |
National Environmental Health Association. (2020). COVID-19 蹤獲弝け health workforce needs assessment II report. |