Legislative Initiatives

2009 NCPHA Legislative Priorities:

• Seek an increase of recurring funds for local health departments to provide the 10 essential services to improve the public's health at the local level
• Seek funding for obesity prevention programs
• Seek increasing the cigarette tax by $1.00
• Seek legislation that would require all NC workplaces and public places to be
  smoke-free
• Support legislation that requires local health directors to determine testing of
  private wells for VOC.
• Support loan forgiveness programs for public health students who remain in
  North Carolina
• Support ensuring health insurance availability/affordability for graduate students
• Support age-appropriate, medically-accurate comprehensive health education in
  North Carolina School curricula
• Support management for HIV/AIDS in the correctional system and to support
  continuity of care after release from correctional institutions
• Support improving the ratio of public health dental hygienists to children in
  elementary schools to 1:7,000
• Support legislation that gives the retired public health work force the option to return to work immediately without penalty

Why is Advocacy Important?

The North Carolina Public Health Association has led efforts to improve the public's health through advocating for resources and policies to promote a healthy society. In this time of public health challenges and limited budgets, NCPHA is working to ensure the needs of public health are met. NCPHA influences policies and sets priorities on a broad set of issues, including:

NCPHA members and staff work with State Legislators and Members of Congress, regulatory agencies and other public health organizations to ensure that public health is priority in the legislative and policy-making process.

How Can I Influence Policy?

Every citizen can advocate on behalf of public health. Those employed in government should forward messages to their State Legislators and Members of Congress after business hours and use only personal stationary, email addresses, and personal telephone.

To learn more about the structure of the North Carolina General Assembly, how an idea becomes law, who represents you and directions to the General Assembly building, please go the NC General Assembly Citizen Guide.

To follow legislation or to obtain contact information on each legislator, you can also access that information on the main General Assembly website.

To obtain information relative to the US Congress, go to www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.