At the Federal level:
From the Office of Congressman Joseph Sestak, Pennsylvania's 7th District:
oCombating Global Health Epidemics: Congressman Sestak joined a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives in support of landmark legislation that will extend and expand a key initiative to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria around the globe. The Lantos-Hyde U.S. Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization was approved by a vote of 308-116. This carefully crafted bipartisan compromise-worked out between House Democrats, House Republicans and the Bush Administration-reauthorizes and expands the U.S. Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act over the next five years, authorizing $10 billion a year through FY 2013 for a total of $50 billion. The bill's goals include, preventing 12 million new HIV infections by 2013; providing life-saving drugs for 3 million AIDS patients; providing medical and non-medical care for 12 million people (including 5 million orphans); and training 140,000 new health care workers. http://www.sestak.house.gov/list/press/pa07_sestak/080402_lantoshyde.shtml
oAdvocating Public Health: Congressman Sestak voted in early April in favor of seven public health bills as part of National Public Health Week. Those bills deal with myriad issues, ranging from emergency medical services for children to traumatic brain injuries. All seven of the bills passed. The Wakefield Act, for example reauthorizes through FY 2011 and makes improvements in the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program, which is designed to improve emergency medical services for children needing trauma or critical care. For example, it extends the length of time for which a grant may be awarded to four years, from three. There are over 30 million child and teen visits annually to our nation's emergency rooms. And yet many emergency services are still designed for adults. Since the EMSC program was created 20 years ago, major improvements in emergency care for children have been realized. Injury-related deaths have dropped by 40 percent over that period of time. To learn more about the other bills that passed, visit: http://www.sestak.house.gov/list/press/pa07_sestak/080409_Health.shtml
For the most up to date news on Congressman Sestak's efforts to improve healthcare for his constituents click here to visit his home page.
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