Fluent Essays

PLEASE READ FULL INSTRUCTIONS. NO PLAGIARISM! NO QUOTES, MUST PARAPHRASE. I WILL CHECK FOR RECYCLED WORK AND PLAGIARISM. THIS ASSIGNMENT IS DUE 09/16/21 AT 9PM PST. IF YOU CANT MEET THIS DEADLINE, DONT AGREE TO DO MY ASSIGNMENT. PRICE ISNT NEGOTIABLE. PLEASE READ GRADING RUBRIC. TEACHERS USE THE GRADING RUBRIC TO DETERMINE GRADE. IF DIRECTIONS ARENT BEING FOLLOWED, I WILL DISPUTE RIGHT AWAY. LETS AVOID THAT.     In examining the “2008 Blueprint for a Healthier America” readings, it is clear that when the document was created it was designed to inspire and facilitate positive change. Looking at the current state of health care in the United States do you believe that many of the suggestions were utilized by then President Barrack Obama?  Since you have only been asked to read through the Guiding Principles, utilizing those headings, what programs have you seen develop and what programs likely will not happen? Highlight two programs that have been developed and find a scholarly source (Links to an external site.) for each that discusses its growth and impact. ISSUE REPORT OCTOBER 2008 PREVENTING EPIDEMICS. PROTECTING PEOPLE. TFAH BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lowell Weicker, Jr. President Former 3-term U.S. Senator and Governor of Connecticut Cynthia M. Harris, PhD, DABT Vice President Director and Associate Professor, Institute of Public Health, Florida A & M University Margaret A. Hamburg, MD Secretary Senior Scientist, Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) Patricia Baumann, MS, JD Treasurer President and CEO, Bauman Foundation Gail Christopher, DN Vice President for Health WK Kellogg Foundation John W. Everets David Fleming, MD Director of Public Health Seattle King County, Washington Arthur Garson, Jr., MD, MPH Executive Vice President and Provost and the Robert C. Taylor Professor of Health Science and Public Policy University of Virginia Robert T. Harris, MD Former Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President for Healthcare BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina Alonzo Plough, MA, MPH, PhD Vice President of Program, Planning and Evaluation The California Endowment Theodore Spencer Project Manager Natural Resources Defense Council REPORT AUTHORS Jeffrey Levi, PhD. Executive Director Trust for America’s Health and Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services Sherry Kaiman Director of Policy Development Trust for America’s Health Chrissie Juliano, MPP Policy Development Manager Trust for America’s Health Laura M. Segal, MA Director of Public Affairs Trust for America’s Health CONTRIBUTORS Daniella Gratale, MA Government Relations Manager Trust for America’s Health Michael R. Taylor, JD Research Professor George Washington School of Public Health And Health Services Lynora Williams, MW Consultant and Principal Lyric Editorial Services TRUST FOR AMERICA’S HEALTH IS A NON-PROFIT, NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SAVING LIVES AND MAKING DISEASE PREVENTION A NATIONAL PRIORITY. This project is supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundations. I N T R O D U C T I O N Section 1 S E C T IO N1 S E C T IO N1 1 The current public health system is broken. It is chronically underfunded and outdated. Modernizing public health is urgently needed to protect and improve the health of Americans. Prevention, preparedness, and public health are vital to the wellbeing of families, communities, workplace productiv- ity, U.S. competitiveness, and national secu- rity. The U.S. is falling behind as Americans become more unhealthy and less protected, and health care costs skyrocket. This Blueprint for a Healthier America is a fed- eral policy guide for the next President, Ad- ministration, and Congress with expert rec- ommendations to revitalize the nation’s abil- ity to protect the health of all Americans. Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) under- took a year-long consensus-building process, consulting more than 150 leading health ex- perts and organizations to assemble recom- mendations for effective ways to modernize the federal public health system to meet the range of health challenges we face. TFAH expresses its gratitude to everyone who was a part of this process. Blueprint for a Healthier America: MODERNIZING THE FEDERAL PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM TO FOCUS ON PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS America is facing a health crisis. Even though America spends morethan $2 trillion annually on health care -- more than any other nation in the world -- tens of millions of Americans suffer every day from preventable diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some forms of cancer that rob them of their health and quality of life.1 In addition, major vulnerabilities remain in our preparedness to respond to health emergencies, including bioterrorism, natural disasters, and emerging infectious diseases. 1S E C T I O N 2 � A vision statement signed by more than 140 leading health organizations that out- lines principles to make disease and injury prevention a cornerstone of America’s health policies. � Recommendations to improve the infra- structure of America’s public health sys- tem - - funding, structure of agencies, accountability systems, workforce recruit- ment and retention, and integrating pub- lic health with health care - - which are all needed to support the foundation of all public health programs and services. � Recommendations from TFAH’s ongoing initiatives and projects. TFAH issues a se- ries of policy reports each year to bring special attention to some of the nation’s most serious public health problems. A number of these issues reflect some of the top health concerns Americans have based on public opinion research conducted by Greenberg Rosner Quinlan Research and Public Opinion Strategies for TFAH, in- cluding reducing health care costs through improved disease prevention, the obesity epidemic, food safety, and pre- paredness for health emergencies. TFAH has also focused attention on infant health, which is a leading indicator for how healthy a nation is, and addressing “social determinants” of health, which looks at why some communities are health- ier than others and ways to ensure all Americans have the opportunity to be as healthy as they can be. � An Agenda for Modernizing Public Health paper that defines the need and scope for a policy agenda to modernize public health. This paper is the result of a series of consensus meetings with more than 35 experts and national organizations. The Blueprint for a Healthier America is supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Blueprint contains: 3 Section 1: Introduction A. Our Vision for a Healthier America. More than 140 leading health organizations have signed on to a vision statement outlin- ing the need to make disease and injury pre- vention the centerpiece of our national strategy for improving the nation’s health. Section 2: Infrastructure Recommendations A. Funding Public Health for a Healthier America. TFAH partnered with The New York Academy of Medicine to convene ex- perts to inform, review, and develop cost esti- mates based on the current total governmental investment in public health and the level of investment that would be required to support a modernized public health system. This section examines potential revenue streams to support a sustained investment in public health and examines how government funding must be a shared responsibility at the federal, state, and local levels. B. Federal Health Agencies: Restructuring for a Healthier America. Recommendations for creating the optimal structure necessary to improve public health programs and services across federal government agencies, reflecting policy sug- gestions from former high-ranking public of- ficials, former Members of Congress, and other opinion leaders. C. Accountability for a Healthier America. Recommendations for improving accounta- bility across the public health system, so Americans know what is being done to pro- tect their health, how healthy the country and their communities are, and how effec- tively their tax dollars are being used. D. Meeting the Public Health Workforce Crisis: Recruiting the Next Generation of Public Health Professionals. Recom- mendations from public health and work- force experts for ways to recruit and retain the next generation of public health profes- sionals. E. Incorporating Public Health and Pre- vention into Health Care Reform. Rec- ommendations on how strong public health systems and public policies focused on pre- vention of disease and injury should be the cornerstone of a health care reform plan. F. Medicare: Improving Prevention to Help Contain Costs and Improve Health. Recommendations for improving prevention services offered by Medicare and ensuring Americans are healthier when they reach Medicare age. G. Behavioral Health: A Necessary Com- ponent of a Healthier America. Recommendations for ensuring behavioral health concerns are integrated into all public health programs and services. Section 3: Trust for America’s Health Initiative Recommendations A. Prevention for a Healthier America: In- vestments in Disease Prevention Yield Significant Savings, Stronger Communi- ties. Recommendations for a National Health and Prevention Strategy B. F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America. Recommendations for a National Strategy to Combat Obesity C. Ready or Not? Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism. Recommendations for fixing the gaps in public health emergency preparedness. D. Fixing Food Safety: Protecting America’s Food Supply from Farm to Fork. Recommendations for improving food safety. E. Stamping Out Smoking. Recommenda- tions for policies to prevent smoking and other tobacco use. F. Shortchanging America’s Health. Under- standing Social Determinants and Recom- mendations for improving the health of all Americans, no matter where they live. G. Healthy Women, Healthy Babies. Recommendations for improving infant health in the U.S. Section 4: Overview of Federal Public Health Agencies and Budgets Section 5: Background Resources A. A Healthier America: An Agenda for Modernizing Public Health. A summary of consensus-building meetings where more than 35 leading health experts and national organi- zations met to define the need and scope for a policy agenda to modernize public health. BLUEPRINT FOR A HEALTHIER AMERICA TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 Julio Abreu, Director of Government Affairs, Mental Health America Katie Adamson, Director of Health Partnerships and Policy, YMCA of the USA Denise Adams-Simms, MPH, Executive Director, California Black Health Network Nancy Adler, PhD, Director, Center for Health and Community, University of California, San Francisco Gregg Albright, Deputy Director, Planning and Model Programs,California Department of Transportation Brian Altman, JD, Director of Public Policy and Program Development, Suicide Prevention Action Network USA Sharon Arnold, PhD, Vice President, AcademyHealth Bernie Arons, MD, Executive Director/CEO, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. Linnea Ashley, MPH, Program Coordinator, Prevention Institute Ed Baker, MD, MPH, Director, North Carolina Institute for Public Health Research Professor, University of North Carolina School of Public Health Polly Bednash, PhD, RN, FANN, Executive Director, American Association of Colleges of Nursing Suzanne Begeny, MS, RN, Director of Government Affairs, American Association of Colleges of Nursing Georges Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP(E), Executive Director, American Public Health Association Bob Berenson, MD, Senior Fellow, Urban Institute Ron Bialek, MPP, President, Public Health Foundation Michael Bird, PhD, MSW, MPH, Private Consultant Jessica Donze Black, RD, MPH, Executive Director, Campaign to End Obesity Jim Blumenstock, Chief Program Officer, Public Health Practice, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials Ramon Bonzon, MPH, Program Associate, National Association of County and City Health Officials Jo Ivey Boufford, MD, President, The New York Academy of Medicine Courtney Brein, Policy Associate, The New York Academy of Medicine Roderick Bremby, MPA, Secretary, Kansas Department of Health and Environment Russell Brewer, DrPH, MPH, CHES, Program Associate, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Eli Briggs, Senior Government Affairs Specialist, National Association of County and City Health Officials Charlotte Brody, RN, Executive Director, Commonweal Carol Brown, MS, Senior Advisor, National Association of County and City Health Officials Donna Brown, JD, MPH, Government Affairs Counsel and Senior Advisor for Public Affairs, National Association of County and City Health Officials Maureen Budetti, MA, Director of Student Aid Policy, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities Charlene Burgeson, Executive Director, National Association for Sport as Physical Education Terry Buss, PhD, Director, International Studies, National Academy of Public Administration Jeremy Cantor, MPH, Program Manager, Prevention Institute David Chavis, PhD, Principal Associate and CEO, Association for the Study and Development of Community The Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) would like to thank all of theexperts and organizations who contributed to the development of the Blueprint. The opinions expressed in the Blueprint do not necessarily repre- sent the views of these individuals or organizations. 5 Mary Gardner Clagett, Deputy Director for Policy, Workforce Development Strategies Group, National Center on Education and the Economy Gabriel Cohen, Former Policy Associate, The New York Academy of Medicine Larry Cohen, MSW, Executive Director, Prevention Institute John Colbert, JD, Senior Counsel, Workforce Development Strategies Group, National Center on Education and the Economy Carrie Cornwell, Chief Consultant, Transportation and Housing Committee, California State Senate Bill Corr, JD, Executive Director, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Rachel Davis, MSW, Managing Director, Prevention Institute Daniel Dawes, JD, Senior Legislative and Federal Affairs Officer, Public Interest Policy, American Psychological Association Linda Degutis, DrPH, MSN, Research Director, Yale Center for Public Health Preparedness Pat DeLeon, PhD, JD, MPH, Chief of Staff, Senator Daniel Inouye Nancy-Ann DeParle, JD, MA, Managing Director, CCMP Capital, LLC Abby Dilley, MS, Senior Mediator, RESOLVE Helen DuPlessis, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, UCLA School of Medicine and School of Public Health John Dwyer, JD, Special Advisor, Arent Fox Thomas Elwood, DrPH, Executive Director, Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions Gerard Farrell, Executive Director, Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service Gerri Fiala, Former Director of Workforce Research, Workforce Development Strategies Group, National Center on Education and the Economy Ruth Finkelstein, ScD, Vice President for Health Policy, The New York Academy of Medicine Sarah Flanagan, MAT, Vice President for Government Relations and Policy, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities David Fleming, MD, Director of Public Health, Seattle King County Public Health Sheila Franklin, Director, National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity Mark Friedman, Director, Fiscal Policy Studies Institute Ana Garcia, MPA, Policy Associate, The New York Academy of Medicine Parris Glendening, President, Smart Growth Leadership Institute Eric Goplerud, PhD, MA, Research Professor, George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services Steve Gunderson, President and CEO, Council on Foundations Paul Halverson, DrPH, FACHE, Director and State Health Officer, Arkansas Department of Health Peggy Hamburg, MD, Senior Scientist, NTI Dennis Harrington, Deputy Division Director, North Carolina Division of Public Health Susan Hattan, MA, Senior Consultant, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities Audrey Haynes, MSW, Senior Vice President for Government Relations, YMCA of the USA Karen Helsing, MHS, Director, Educational Programs, Association of Schools of Public Health Jane Henney, MD, Professor for Health Affairs, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Peggy Honore, DHA, Associate Professor, University of Southern Mississippi Mark Horton, MD, MPH, State Public Health Officer, California Department of Public Health Anthony Iton, MD, JD, MPH, Director and Health Officer, Alameda County Department of Public Health Megan Ix, Research Assistant, AcademyHealth Paul Jarris, MD, MBA, Executive Director, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials Grantland Johnson, Special Advisor, Strategy Policy, Community Housing Opportunities Corporation 6 Nancy Johnson, Senior Public Policy Advisor, Baker/Donelson Bill Kamela, Senior Director for Education and Workforce, Law and Corporate Affairs, Microsoft Martha Katz, MPA, Director of Health Policy, Healthcare Georgia Foundation Rita Kelliher, MSPH, Director, Grants and Contracts, Association of Schools of Public Health Norma Kent, Vice President of Communications, American Association of Community Colleges Andrew Kessler, JD Principal, Slingshot Solutions, Inc. David Kindig, MD, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Population Health Sciences and Emeritus Vice-Chancellor for Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine Laura Rasar King, MPH, CHES, Executive Director, Council on Education for Public Health Yvonne Knight, Director, Government Relations, National Academy of Public Administration Chris Koyanagi, Policy Director, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law Vinnie Lafronza, EdD, MS, Co-Principal and Founder, CommonHealth ACTION Nina Leavitt, EdD, Associate Executive Director for Government Relations, Education Directorate, American Psychological Association Melissa Lewis, MPH, Analyst, Public Health, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials Patrick Libbey, Executive Director, National Association of County and City Health Officials Marsha Lillie-Blanton, DrPH, Senior Advisor, Commission to Build a Healthier America Nicole Lurie, MD, MSPH, Senior Natural Scientist and Co-Director for Public Health at the Center for Domestic and International Health Security, RAND Ron Manderscheid, PhD, Global Health Sector, Director of Mental Health and Substance Use Programs, SRA International Jim Marks, MD, MPH, Senior Vice President, Director Health Group, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Joe Marx, Senior Communications Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Barbara Masters, MA, Public Policy Director, The California Endowment Glen Mays, MPH, PhD, Department of Health Policy and Management, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health James McKenney, Vice President for Economic Development, American Association of Community Colleges Leslie Mikkelsen, MPH, Managing Director, Public Health Institute Wilhelmine Miller, MS, PhD, Associate Staff Director, Commission to Build a Healthier America Mark Mioduski, MPA, Vice President, Cornerstone Government Affairs Jack Moran, MBA, MS, PhD, Senior Quality Advisor, Public Health Foundation Joyal Mulheron, MS, Program Director, Public Health, National Governors Association Fran Murphy, MD, Independent Consultant Poki Stewart Namkung, MD, MPH, Health Officer, County of Santa Cruz Sandy Naylor-Goodwin, PhD, Executive Director, California Institute for Mental Health Julie Netherland, MSW, Policy Associate, The New York Academy of Medicine Carmen Nevarez, MD, MPH, Vice President for External Relations and Preventive Medicine Advisor, Public Health Institute Kathleen Nolan, MPH, Director, Health Division, National Governors Association Delia Olufokunbi, PhD, MS, Assistant Research Professor, Department of Health Policy and Deputy Director of the Center for Integrated Behavioral Health Policy, George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services Barbara Ormond, PhD, Senior Research Associate, Urban Institute Tara O’Tooke, MD, MPH, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Center for Biosecurity Kate Froeb Papa, MPH, Senior Manager, AcademyHealth Scott Pattison, Executive Director, National Association of State Budget Officers 7 Jim Pearsol, Chief Program Officer, Public Health Performance, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials Robert Phillips, MPA, MPH, Senior Program Officer, The California Endowment Sylvia Pirani, MPH, Director, Office of Local Health Services, New York State Department of Health Alonzo Plough, MA, MPH, PhD, Vice President, Strategy, Planning, and Evaluation, The California Endowment Susan Polan, PhD, Associate Executive Director, Public Affairs and Advocacy, American Public Health Association John Porter, JD, M.Ed, Partner, Hogan and Hartson Margaret Potter, JD, Associate Dean and Director, Center for Public Health Practice, University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health Stephanie Powers, Project Director, National Fund for Workforce Solutions Carol Rasco, MA, President and CEO, Reading is Fundamental Judith Rensberger, MS, MPH, Government Relations Director, Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service Robert Rosseter, Associate Executive Director, American Association of Colleges of Nursing Pamela Russo, MD, MPH, Senior Program Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Judy Salerno, MD, SM, Executive Officer, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies Eduardo Sanchez, MD, MPH, Director, Institute for Health Policy, University of Texas School of Public Health Bill Schultz, JD, Partner, Zuckerman Spaeder David Shern, PhD, President and CEO, Mental Health America Gillian Silver, MPH, Manager, Research and Educational Programs, Association of Schools of Public Health Paul Simon, MD, MPH, Director, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Brian Smedley, PhD, Former Research Director and Co-Founder, Opportunity Agenda Jennifer Beard Smulson, Senior Legislative and Federal Affairs Officer, Government Relations Office, Education Directorate, American Psychological Association Gene Sofer, Partner, The Susquehanna Group Byron Sogie-Thomas, MS, Director of Health Policy, National Medical Association Brenda Spillman, PhD, Senior Research Associate, Urban Institute Janani Srikantharajah, Program Assistant, Prevention Institute Laurel Stine, MS, JD, Director of Federal Relations, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law Robin Squellati, RN, MSN, NP, Colonel, U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps; Detailee to the Office of U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye David Sundwall, MD, Executive Director, Utah Department of Health Mike Taylor, JD, Research Professor, George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services Pat Taylor, Executive Director, Faces & Voices of Recovery Bob Templin, Jr., PhD, President, Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) Annie Toro, JD, MPH, Associate Executive Director for Government Relations, Public Interest Directorate, American Psychological Association Ho Luong Tran, PhD, President and CEO, Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum John Vasquez, Solano County Supervisor Rajeev Venkayya, MD, Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Biodefense, White House Homeland Security Council Tim Waidmann, PhD, Senior Research Associate, Urban Institute Tracy Wiedt, MPH, Program Manager, YMCA of the USA 9 Today, serious gaps exist in the nation’s ability to safeguard health, putting our families, com- munities, states, and nation at risk. � Seven years after September 11, 2001, and three years after Hurricane Katrina, major problems remain in our readiness to re- spond to large-scale health emergencies. The country is still insufficiently prepared to protect people from disease outbreaks, natural disasters, or acts of bioterrorism, leaving Americans unnecessarily vulnera- ble to these threats. � Even though America spends more than $2 trillion annually on health care - - more than any other nation in the world - - tens of millions of Americans suffer every day from preventable illnesses and chronic dis- eases like cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s that rob them of health and quality of life. Racial, ethnic and eco- nomic disparities exacerbate the burden of disease. Baby boomers may be the first generation to live less healthy lives than their parents. And, the obesity crisis is put- ting millions of adults and children at risk for unprecedented levels of major diseases like diabetes and heart disease. � Poor health is putting the nation’s eco- nomic security in jeopardy. The skyrock- eting costs of health care threaten to bankrupt American businesses, causing some companies to send jobs to other countries where costs are lower. Helping people to stay healthy and better manage illnesses are the best ways to drive down health care costs. Keeping the American workforce well helps American businesses remain competitive in the global economy. America must provide quality, affordable health care to all. But that’s not enough. The government must create strategies to eliminate health disparities and improve the health of all Americans, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. A strong public health system and public policies fo- cused on prevention of disease and injur y must be part of the solution. A. OUR VISION FOR A HEALTHIER AMERICA The Problem and Need for Action America should strive to be the healthiest nation in the world. Every American should have the opportunity to be as healthy as he or she can be. Every community should be safe from threats to its health. And all individuals and families should have a high level of services that protect, pro- mote, and preserve their health, regardless of who they are or where they live. To realize these goals, the nation must strengthen America’s public health sys- tem in order to: 1) provide people with the information, resources, and envi- ronment they need to make healthier choices and live healthier lives, and 2) protect people from health threats beyond their control, such as bioterrorism, natural disasters, infectious disease outbreaks, and environmental hazards. Achieving this vision will require the combined efforts of federal, state, and local governments in partnership with businesses, communities, and citizens. 10 Preventing and combating threats to our health is the primary responsibility of our na- tion’s public health system. The public health system consists of health agencies at the federal, state, and local levels of govern- ment that work in collaboration with health care providers, businesses, and community partners. Achieving a healthier America re- quires a national commitment to revitalizing and modernizing the public health system. Guiding Principles for Prevention � Our support for health care has focused for too long on caring for people after they become sick or harmed. Prevention means improving the quality of people’s lives, sparing individuals from needless suf- fering, and eliminating unnecessary costs from our health system. � Fundamentals like investigating epidemics, educating the public about health risks, early screening for disease, and immuniza- tions are proven to help prevent and re- duce the rates of illness and disease. A greater emphasis on prevention could sig- nificantly reduce rates of chronic illness. 1. We believe prevention must drive our nation’s health strategy. � By supporting policies and programs like promoting healthier schools, smoke-free environments, and improved community design, the government can do more to meet its responsibility to help citizens lead healthier lives. � The government must protect air, water, and food; minimize chemical exposures; and pro- vide communities healthier environments. 2. We believe Americans deserve healthy and safe places to live, work, and play. � The federal government’s role is to ensure that the public health system has sufficient resources and meets basic standards for protecting the public’s health. Govern- ment at all levels must also be held ac- countable for the health and safety of the American people. And, the government must show that it is spending public health dollars effectively and in ways that clearly improve the public’s health and safety. 4. We believe Americans deserve to know what government is doing to keep them healthy and safe. � A basic role of government is to protect us and our health from threats like bioter- rorism and infectious disease outbreaks, and to keep our food supply safe. 3. We believe every community should be prepared to meet the threats of infectious disease, bioterrorism, and natural disasters. 11 AARP • Active for Life • AIDS Action Council • Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics • Alliance for Healthy Homes • America Walks • American Academy of Pediatrics • American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance • American Association for Homecare • American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. • American Cancer Society-Cancer Action Network • American College of Clinical Pharmacy • American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine • American College of Preventive Medicine • American Diabetes Association • American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) • American Heart Association • American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering • American Lung Association • American Nurses Association • American Osteopathic Association • American Optometric Association • American Pharmacists Association • American Public Health Association • American Red Cross • American School Health Association • American Tai Chi Association • Amputee Coalition of America • Association for Prevention Teaching and Research • Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology • Association of Maternal and Child Health …