ASTHO offers personalized legislative and advocacy expertise to our members. Additionally, ASTHO helps prepare them to provide testimony before Congress or participate in congressional briefings.
We also provide congressional leaders and their staff with timely and relevant information regarding public health activities in their respective jurisdictions to guide their consideration of public health related policies.
Federal Legislative Agenda
Each year, ASTHO’s Board of Directors reviews and approves our federal legislative agenda to ensure it represents the most critical needs of state and territorial public health officials at the federal level. It is prioritized into three tiers:
- Tier one represents priority areas where ASTHO will play a lead role in advocacy.
- Tier two includes issues where ASTHO will actively collaborate with key partners.
- Tier three covers issues that ASTHO will monitor and advocate for, as time permits.
Governmental Public Health Appropriations Book
The government affairs team produces a variety of resources annually to support our advocacy efforts. Our governmental public health appropriations book is a flagship product that incudes expert analysis from ASTHO and affiliate staff. The appropriations book also represents a wide array of core public health programs and the recommendations by these organizations for annual appropriations to CDC, HRSA, and SAMHSA so they receive necessary resources to execute their missions.
Legislative Alerts
The government affairs team regularly sends legislative alerts to members, affiliates, and public health advocates with the most up-to-date information on emerging public health policies from Congress and the administration. Legislative alerts encourage members to actively engage with their members of Congress to advocate for policies that improve the public’s health.
Testimony Before Congress
State and territorial health officials are leading experts in public health practice and speak to Congress frequently about the impact of federal policy on their jurisdiction. State and territorial health officials testified on COVID-19, the opioid crisis, vaping, and funding for public health.
View from Washington
Join members of ASTHO's Federal Government Affairs team as they break down public health policy on Public Health Review Morning Edition.
Latest Federal Affairs Resources
Outcomes and Implications of ACIP’s Vote on the Hepatitis B Vaccine for Newborns
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Government Shutdown Effects on Public Health: Lessons from the 2025 and 2018-2019 Closures
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