News

FY 2012 Funding Finalized: Title V Cut Minimized

December 19, 2011

AMCHP Legislative Alert - December 17, 2011

FY 2012 Funding Finalized – Moments ago, Congress approved an Omnibus Appropriations Bill which provides funding for a number of federal agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services through September 30, 2012. Included in this bill is $646,319,000 for the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant - a $10 million decrease from the fiscal year 2011 level of $656 million.   However, a subsequent provision applies a 0.189 percent across the board cut bringing the MCH Block Grant total closer to $645,097,000 million. Below are some specifics about the legislative package:

• The package specifies that the $10 million reduction will be applied to the Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS) portion of the MCH Block Grant.
• While significant, this reduction is much less than the $50 million cut approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee earlier this year.  It will likely take some time to learn details on how the reductions will be applied.

• Overall, HHS funding is $69.7 billion - a $700 million decrease from fiscal year 2011.  CDC funding is $6.1 billion, an increase of $38 million from fiscal year 2011. HRSA is funded at $6.5 billion - a decrease of $41 million from fiscal year 2011.  AMCHP is compiling a chart of other MCH-related program funding levels that will be available soon. 

A Statement of Managers that accompanies the fiscal year 2012 Omnibus Appropriations bill provides a plain English explanation of the legislation and is available now. Information on MCH funding is on page 11, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau funding chart is on page 99 and the CDC funding charts begin on page 103.  Please note the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program funds and Prevention and Public Health Fund dollars are not specified in the bill or the Statement of Managers. We are told however by reliable sources that both are intact.

In the spirit of the holiday season it is important to pause and reflect on what you have accomplished this year. During the February fiscal year 2011 budget fight the House proposed to slash the Title V MCH block grant by $210 million.  Together we defeated that proposal and ended up with a small cut to the block grant. Then earlier this year the Senate proposed a $50 million cut to the MCH block grant in the fiscal year 2012 Senate appropriations bill. That cut has been reduced to $11.2 million. While this cut is not insignificant, in these trying times, it is important for us to pause for a moment and know that our voice was heard.

On behalf of AMCHP and the millions of women, infants and children served by Title V MCH programs thank you for your advocacy.  Next year will be even more challenging, but today should be a testament to you to never give up and to always make the case for maternal and child health because Washington is listening.

This e-mail was sent from Association Of Maternal And Child Health Programs (communications@amchp.org) to karen.smith@unh.edu.