The ASTHO Newsroom houses press releases and statements on recent public health issues. ASTHO can connect the press to state and territorial health officials for stories related to public health.
Recent News Releases
2021
ASTHO Press Team
Jane Esworthy
Senior Director, Public Relations
jesworthy@astho.org
(571) 318-5431
Stephanie Rhodes
Director, Public Relations
srhodes@astho.org
2020
Dec. 22 | ASTHO Applauds Congress on Approval of Much Needed COVID-19 Resources and Increases to Public Health in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021
Dec. 10 | ASTHO President and Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Testifies Before Congress about COVID-19 Vaccinations
Dec. 1 | Public Health Organizations Publish Lessons Learned From the Early Days of COVID-19 Response
Nov. 19 | Urgent Action Needed to Contain the Spread of COVID-19 Nationwide
Nov. 6 | New ASTHO Report Spotlights National Approaches for Rapid COVID-19 Testing
Oct. 22 | State Health Officials Share 12 Tips for Safe In-Person Voting
Oct. 20 | Leading Health Organizations Unite to Implement National COVID-19 Vaccination Plan
Oct. 15 | Public Health Leaders Request COVID-19 Vaccine Infrastructure and Administration Funding
Sept. 24 | New Data on State Health Agencies Shows Shrinking Workforce and Decreased Funding Leading up to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Sept. 3 | Safety, Not Politics, Must Drive COVID-19 Vaccine Timeline
Sept. 2 | Nation’s Health Officials Call for Greater Collaboration and Communication with Federal Government
Aug. 14 | ASTHO Celebrates the 85th Anniversary of Title V
Aug. 13 | ASTHO, NCSD Awarded ASAE Power of A Silver Award
Aug. 12 | Health Officials Launch Ad Campaign to Encourage Mask Use
Aug. 3 | Additional Supplemental Funding is Indeed Needed for Public Health
July 16 | Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine New ASTHO President
July 16 | From Contact Tracing to Case Investigation to Exposure Notification: New Issue Guide Provides Insight into How Technologies May Assist and Still Need to be Tested in COVID-19 Response
July 1 | As July Fourth Approaches, Nation’s Physicians and Public Health Officials Urge All Americans to Take Precautions to Help Prevent Further Spread of COVID-19
June 30 | Organizations Call on HHS to Renew Public Health Emergency Declaration
June 23 | Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun Testifies on COVID-19 Lessons Learned
June 23 | State and Territorial Health Officials to the American Public: COVID-19 is Not Over
June 2 | Nation’s Public Health Leaders Stand United Against Racism
May 15 | As Unemployment Rates Rise, Thousands of COVID-19 Contact Tracers Trained Through New Online Training Course in All 50 States
May 7 | New Tool Will Help Public Health Officials Estimate the Need for COVID-19 Contact Tracing
Apr. 29 | National Health Organizations Announce COVID-19 Contact Tracing Training
Apr. 27 | State Associations Release Roadmap to Recovery from COVID-19
Apr. 16 | Funding Public Health Should Always be a Priority
Apr. 10 | Scaling Up Public Health Contact Investigation Key to America's Recovery: New Report Finds 100,000 Disease Investigators Needed Now
Apr. 9 | Nation’s Public Health Leaders Urge President Trump to Use All Available Authorities to Quickly Produce Testing Supplies and Personal Protective Equipment
Apr. 3 | ASTHO Statement on Use of Face Coverings by the General Public to Prevent Spread of COVID-19
Mar. 27 | ASTHO Statement on Easing Public Health Measures Amid COVID-19 Outbreak
Mar. 27 | Public Health Organizations Applaud Funding for Data Modernization Initiative
Mar. 23 | J.T. Lane Joins ASTHO Executive Team as Chief Population Health and Innovation Officer
Mar. 20 | COVID-19 Testing Needs to Be Limited to Priority Groups Until Sufficient Testing Supplies and Personal Protective Equipment is Available Nationwide
Mar. 13 | ASTHO Statement Following COVID-19 National Emergency Declaration
Mar. 10 | Mississippi State Department of Health Officer Thomas Dobbs Testifies on COVID-19
Mar. 4 | ASTHO Urges Swift Approval of COVID-19 Emergency Supplemental Funding
Mar. 4 | Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike Testifies on COVID-19
Feb. 25 | ASTHO and NACCHO Host Joint Public Health Advocacy Day to Highlight Underfunded U.S. Governmental Public Health System
Feb. 24 | Governmental Public Health Leaders Request Emergency Supplemental Funding for COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Efforts
Feb. 10 | ASTHO Statement on President’s FY21 Budget Proposal
Feb. 5 | Public Health Departments Are Prepared for Outbreaks
Feb. 3 | ASTHO Statement on U.S. Life Expectancy Increase
Jan. 21 | Health Officials React to First Coronavirus Case in the United States
Jan. 14 | Health Officials Testify Before House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on State Efforts to Address Opioid Epidemic
2019
Dec. 20 | ASTHO and PIHOA Praise Approval of Medicaid Funding Fix for U.S. Territories
Dec. 17 | State and Territorial Health Leaders Applaud Bipartisan Work to Pass an FY20 Appropriations and Extenders Bill
Nov. 13 | ASTHO and George Mason University Innovate to Improve Public Health Through a New Academic and Practice Collaborative
Nov. 6 | Health Officials Seek to Prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences
Oct. 16 | Connecticut Health Official Renée Coleman-Mitchell Testifies on Vaping Illnesses
Oct. 8 | Three Leading National Public Health Organizations Ring the Alarm About All-Time Highs of STDs
Sept. 26 | Nation’s Public Health Officials Urge Americans to Stop Vaping
Sept. 25 | ASTHO Awards Public Health Leaders and Agencies for Service
Sept. 25 | Panel of State Public Health Officials Testify on Lung Disease Outbreak
Sept. 25 | Arkansas Department of Health Secretary Nate Smith Named ASTHO President
Sept. 24 | Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike Testifies on Lung Disease Outbreak
Sept. 12 | ASTHO Urges Increased Investment to Address Growing Obesity Epidemic
Sept. 12 | ASTHO Applauds Administration’s Decision to Halt Sales of Flavored E-Cigarettes
Aug. 29 | ASTHO Commends the Surgeon General Advisory About Marijuana Use on the Developing Brain
July 23 | ASTHO Urges Swift Approval of Bipartisan Budget Deal
May 23 | U.S. Territories Face Healthcare Cuts if Congress Does Not Address Impending Medicaid Financing Cliff
May 15 | ASTHO Members and Staff Named to Inaugural List of 40 Under 40 Public Health Leaders
May 13 | ASTHO Releases Latest Public Health Review Podcast Episode: CDC Director Robert Redfield Talks Opioids, HIV, and Vaccine Hesitancy
May 9 | ASTHO Member and Delaware Health Official Karyl Rattay Testifies on Nation’s Opioid Epidemic
May 8 | Health Officials Combat Nation’s Maternal Mortality Rates
May 2 | ASTHO Statement on House FY20 Appropriations Bill
Apr. 29 | Walgreens and Rite Aid Make Good Public Health Move on Raising Age to Purchase Tobacco, But More Is Needed
Apr. 9 | Supporting Governmental Public Health Should be a Congressional Priority Says Dr. Nathaniel Smith at Today’s House Appropriations Hearing
Apr. 2 | ASTHO Celebrates National Public Health Week
Mar. 11 | State and Local Health Officials at the Capitol to Urge Congress to Prioritize Funding for Public Health
Mar. 5 | Current Measles Outbreaks Should Alarm Every American and Highlight the Critical Importance of Vaccination Programs
Feb. 11 | ASTHO Urges Broad Tobacco Control Policies to Stop Youth E-Cigarette Use
Feb. 5 | ASTHO Commends President Trump's Commitment to Ending HIV Transmission by 2030
2018
Dec. 18 | Public Health Leaders Applaud U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on E-Cigarette Use
Dec. 12 | State and Territorial Health Leaders Commend Selection of John Wiesman as Co-Chair of Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS
Nov. 30 | ASTHO Awarded W.K. Kellogg Foundation Grant To Support Healthy Communities
Nov. 29 | ASTHO President States Third Year of Declining Life Expectancy is a “Wake-Up Call”
Nov. 8 | ASTHO Statement on Public Notification of Legionella Outbreaks
Oct. 25 | Health Officials Alarmed by Declining U.S. Vaccination Rates, Country Could Face Scenario Like Europe's Measles Outbreak
Oct. 24 | ASTHO Statement on Trump Administration's Latest Opioid Efforts
Oct. 17 | ASTHO Launches Public Health Podcast Series
Sept. 28 | State and Territorial Health Officials Join White House Opioid Conference
Sept. 28 | ASTHO Recognizes State, Territorial, and National Leaders in Public Health
Sept. 27 | ASTHO Launches National Campaign to Support Healthy Communities, Aligning with NACCHO and the U.S. Surgeon General
Sept. 27 | Rhode Island Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, Named ASTHO President
Sept. 25 | Health Officials Respond to Alarming Increases in Congenital Syphilis
Sept. 10 | ASTHO Statement on the Bipartisan Opioid Crisis Response Act
Aug. 28 | ASTHO Statement on Rise in National Sexually Transmitted Disease Rates
Aug. 20 | Michigan Court Decision on Health Official's Case is Bad for Public Health
Aug. 7 | Health Officials Seek Sustained Investments to Protect Moms and Babies
July 23 | ASTHO Files Amicus Brief in Michigan Case, Argues Against Criminally Charging Health Officials During Major Public Health Crises
June 21 | Public Health Leaders Note Great Progress in National Adult Smoking Rate Reduction, But More Needs to be Done
June 19 | Nation’s Health Officials Very Concerned About the Public Health Impact of Family Separations at the U.S.-Mexico Border
June 1 | ASTHO and Safe States Alliance Respond to Rising Injury Deaths Among Children and Adolescents
May 17 | ASTHO Member and West Virginia Health Commissioner Rahul Gupta Testifies on Nation’s Opioid Epidemic
May 1 | Illnesses on the Rise from Mosquito, Tick, and Flea Bites Remain Top Issue for Health Officials
April 26 | ASTHO Urges Congress to Increase Funding for Public Health Programs
March 23 | ASTHO Statement on the Appointment of CDC Director, Robert Redfield
March 22 | ASTHO Statement on the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018
March 19 | ASTHO Statement on President Trump's Plan to End the Opioid Epidemic and Address America's "Crisis Next Door"
March 16 | ASTHO Statement on FDA’s Announcement to Reduce Nicotine in Cigarettes
March 15 | Top State and Territorial Public Health Issues Revealed in New Building a Healthier Nation Report
March 13 | State and Territorial Health Officials Gather in Washington, D.C. to Advocate for Public Health Funding
Feb. 12 | ASTHO Statement on President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2019 Budget
Feb. 9 | ASTHO Applauds Bipartisan Budget Deal
Jan. 31 | ASTHO Statement on Resignation of CDC Director
Jan. 23 | Opioid Epidemic Remains a Public Health Emergency
Jan. 22 | Government Shutdown Puts Nation's Health at Risk
Jan. 11 | New ASTHO Profile Report Offers Comprehensive Look at Nation's Health Agencies
2017 and Earlier
2017
Dec. 18 | ASTHO Statement on Media Reports Regarding “Banned Words” at CDC
Dec. 8 | Health Officials Encourage Flu Shots to Protect Pregnant Women and Infants
Dec. 4 | ASTHO Requests $1 Billion in Emergency Supplemental Funding for Opioid Epidemic
Nov. 21 | New Opioid Reports Support ASTHO Call for Increased Investment in Prevention
Nov. 15 | New Guidelines Highlight Public Health Role in Promoting Heart Health
Nov. 1 | Mixed Progress on Preventing Preterm Births Concerns State and Territorial Health Officials
Oct. 26 | State Health Officials Commend Public Health Emergency Declaration to Address Opioid Epidemic
Sept. 21 | John Wiesman Named ASTHO President
Sept. 21 | ASTHO Awards Public Health Leaders for Outstanding Service
Sept. 20 | ASTHO Opioid Framework Assists Health Officials in Combating the Epidemic
Sept. 13 | State Health Officials Strongly Encourage Influenza Vaccinations Among Pregnant Women
Aug. 31 | State Health Officials, Medical Experts, and Safety Advocates Call on FDA to Seek Removal of Ultra-High Dosage Opioids
July 7 | State and Territorial Health Leaders Commend Selection of Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald for CDC Director
June 29 | State and Territorial Health Leaders Commend Nomination of Dr. Jerome Adams for U.S. Surgeon General
June 27 | State Public Health Leaders Urged to Increase Efforts to Prevent Injuries
June 22 | Senate Discussion Draft Eliminates Important Public Health Programs; Pushes Costs to States
June 20 | ASTHO Provides Recommendations to President’s Commission on Opioids
June 15 | ASTHO Recognizes Georgia’s Public Health Champions
June 9 | State and Territorial Health Officials Respond to New CDC Report That Finds Zika Infection During Any Trimester Can Lead to Severe Birth Defects
May 23 | ASTHO Statement on President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2018 Budget
May 4 | Vital Public Health Programs will be Eliminated with Passage of AHCA
April 20 | ASTHO Applauds Administration's Commitment to Combat the Opioid Epidemic
April 5 | Health Officials Intensify Zika Prevention Efforts
April 3 | ASTHO Celebrates National Public Health Week
March 23 | ASTHO Celebrates 75 Years of Public Health Leadership
March 16 | ASTHO Statement on the President's 2018 Budget Blueprint
March 8 | State and Territorial Health Officials Gather in Washington, D.C. to Make the Case for Prevention and Public Health Programs
March 7 | ASTHO Executive Director Michael Fraser Responds to the Affordable Care Act Replacement Bill
Feb. 2 | ASTHO Receives Telework Achievement Award
Jan. 27 | ASTHO and Safe States Alliance Commit to Supporting State Injury and Violence Prevention Programs
2016
Dec. 12 | State and Territorial Health Leaders Praise Surgeon General’s Report on E-Cigarettes
Nov. 17 | State and Territorial Health Officials Applaud Surgeon General’s First Ever Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health
Nov. 15 | Health Officials and Attorneys General Convene to Discuss Legal and Public Health Solutions to Opioid Epidemic
Sept. 14 | State Health Officials to Congress: Act on Zika Funding Now
July 5 | ASTHO Board Selects Michael Fraser to Serve as New Executive Director
May 16 | Public Health Organizations Unite in Call to Restore State and Local Emergency Funding and Approve Emergency Supplemental for Zika
Feb. 2 | ASTHO Challenges Members to Promote Health Equity and Health in All Policies
2015
Dec. 12 | ASTHO and de Beaumont Foundation Commit to Improve the Public Health Workforce
Oct. 21 | Signs Point to Imminent Public Health Workforce Exit
Oct. 2 | ASTHO Executive Director Announces New Role at the March of Dimes
Oct. 1 | ASTHO Announces New Leadership Appointments
Sept. 30 | ASTHO Honors 2015 Public Health Heroes
Sept. 30 | Utah, Colorado, Tennessee, and Missouri Win ASTHO Vision Awards for Innovative Projects
June 2 | State and Territorial Health Agencies Play Critical Role in Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance
March 18 | ASTHO Announces Progress in the Development of The Public Health Community Platform
Jan. 27 | Multistate Measles Outbreak Drives Up State Health Agency Costs and Points to Importance of Quality Immunization Communication