Loading....
We need your help ensuring that Members of the House of Representatives hear from their constituents about the need for increased viral hepatitis funding and the importance of supporting critical hepatitis B and liver cancer priorities in the House Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations Bill.
There are currently two sign-on letters circulating in the House that will be sent to LHHS Subcommittee leadership in support of these asks:
1. Support Funding to Combat Viral Hepatitis and Eliminate Opioid-Related Infectious Diseases
Deadline: COB WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14TH
Congresswoman Grace Meng and Congressman Hank Johnson (co-chairs of the Congressional Hepatitis Caucus) are leading a letter to the LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee requesting them to: (1) increase the funding for viral hepatitis programs at the CDC to $134 million; and (2) include at least $120 million to fully fund the program to eliminate opioid-related infectious diseases in their FY22 bill.
Funding for the CDC's Division of Viral Hepatitis has long been insufficient to address the viral hepatitis epidemic in the U.S. COVID-19 has further impacted the already understaffed and underfunded hepatitis programs across the country, as they have had to redirect resources to pandemic response.
2. Support Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer Research, Prevention, Screening, and Treatment
Deadline: COB FRIDAY, APRIL 16TH
Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez is leading a letter to the LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee requesting report language be included in their FY22 bill to support hepatitis B vaccination, testing, and linkage to care; hepatitis B and liver cancer research and prevention; and other important efforts to address health disparities and discrimination associated with hepatitis B.
Although hepatitis B is preventable and treatable, there is still no cure for this disease. Left undiagnosed and untreated, 1 in 4 people with chronic hepatitis B will die prematurely from cirrhosis, liver failure, and/or liver cancer. Hepatitis B is associated with 800,000 deaths each year worldwide, making it the 10th leading cause of death in the world. In the U.S., up to 2.4 million people are chronically infected, and more than 50% of people living with hepatitis B are of Asian, Pacific Islander, or African descent. Hepatitis B and liver cancer are among the largest health disparities facing these communities.
Please take a moment to email your Representative today and urge them to sign on to these letters!
Based on the address you provided, your Representative is one of the leaders of these letters or has already signed on, so no further action is needed.
Please join our Advocacy Action Center (if you haven't already) to receive hepatitis B policy updates, action alerts, and other advocacy opportunities.
Help us spread the word by forwarding this action alert or sharing the link (https://hepbunited.salsalabs.org/fy22houseapprops) on social media, and encouraging your friends, family, and colleagues to join our Advocacy Action Center.