Groups urge Congress to increase Labor-HHS funding allocation in FY 2017

More than 660 organizations, including the AHA, today urged House and Senate appropriators to increase the funding allocation for the departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Education in fiscal year 2017, saying programs and services funded by the “Labor-HHS spending bill continue to be short-changed in the annual appropriations process.” The Labor-HHS allocation rose less than half as much as the nondefense average in FY 2015 and remains about 10% below FY 2010 levels, adjusted for inflation, the letter notes. “Continuing to underfund these programs and agencies is irresponsible and unsustainable,” the organizations said. “…We urge lawmakers to commit to improving the lives of Americans by increasing the Labor-HHS appropriations allocation in FY 2017.”