Hispanic Center of Excellence

TITLE VII HEALTH PROFESSIONS TRAINING PROGRAMS

JANUARY 17, 2007 

*ACTION ALERT* *ACTION ALERT* *ACTION ALERT* 

TITLE VII HEALTH PROFESSIONS TRAINING PROGRAMS 

On January 4, 2007 the first session of the 110th Congress began. The new Congress, however, has much unfinished business to complete. Specifically, the Fiscal Year 2007 (FY07) Labor-Health and Human Services (HHS)-Education Appropriations Bill has not yet been finalized. This bill provides the annual funding for the Title VII Health Professions Training Programs.

In the absence of an approved FY07 appropriations bill, federal health and education programs, including Title VII, are currently funded under a continuing resolution (CR). Unfortunately for Title VII, this means that these programs are being funded at the low FY06 level of $145 million, 51.5 percent below FY05. The present CR will expire on February 15th and in its place a funding resolution (FR) will be passed, lasting through the end of FY07. 

Due to the critical role of federal health and education programs, appropriators are considering boosting funding for some programs over the FY06 level in the yearlong FR. The proposal would add $2 billion to the funds available for the yearlong FR. It is crucial that all members of Congress understand that an additional $2 billion is essential to adequately fund federal health and education programs.

It is also imperative that all members of Congress understand the role that Title VII programs play in maintaining our nation’s healthcare safety net and why appropriators must restore Title VII funding to the FY05 level of $300 million under the yearlong FR.

The House and Senate Labor-HHS Appropriation Subcommittees will decide what programs have the highest priority and fund them accordingly. These subcommittees include new members that may be unfamiliar with Title VII. The newly appointed members of the House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee are: Barbara Lee (D-CA-9th), Mike Honda (D-CA-15th), Tom Udall (D-NM-3rd), Betty McCollum (D-MN-4th), Tim Ryan (D-OH-17th) and Dennis Rehberg (R-At Large). The new members of the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee are Jack Reed (D-RI) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ).In order for Title VII funding to be restored an additional $2 billion dollars must be added to the yearlong FR and members of the House and Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittees must view the programs as a high priority. 

Consequently, we are recommending that you contact your legislators about the following: 

  1. Adding $2 billion to the FY07 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill to adequately fund health and education programs. 
  2. Restoring Title VII Health Professions Training Programs to the FY05 level of $300 million. 

In order to ensure that $2 billion is added to the yearlong funding resolution and that Title VII is funded at $300 million, please contact members of Congress and ask for their support. 

As an advocate for Title VII programs, you are urged to: 

  1. www.congress.org and enter your zip code. This website also lists the contact information for each congressional office. 
  2. Call and fax letters to the members of the House and Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittees, as well as the members of the full House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The names and contact information for the Members of Congress who sit on the House and Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittees and the full House and Senate Appropriations Committees are listed below. 
  3. Remind everyone you know who is connected to, or a supporter of, Title VII programs to also call and fax letters to their legislators and the members of the House and Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittees and the full House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The more people calling and faxing letters, the better. 

CALL AND FAX LETTERS TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO URGE THEM TO ADD $2 BILLION TO THE YEARLONG CR AND RESTORE TITLE VII FUNDING TO $300 MILLION. 

When calling congressional offices, you should ask for the Health Legislative Assistant. These offices receive numerous calls and faxes everyday and they may not respond to your initial call, but be persistent and follow-up. 

Below are two sample outlines of letters to fax or talking points to use for a conversation or a voicemail; one is for a senator's office and one is for a representative's office. 

 
 

The Honorable [full name of the senator

United States Senate 

Washington, D.C. 20510 

Dear Senator [last name of the senator], 

Introduce yourself and explain your interest in supporting Title VII programs. If you are an alumnus of a Title VII program, elaborate on the positive impact it had on your education. 

  • Urge your Senator to support adding an additional $2 billion to the yearlong funding resolution to fund vital health and education programs. 
  • Urge the Senator to join you in supporting a restoration of Title VII funding to the FY05 level of $300 million. 
  • Explain why you believe that Title VII programs are essential to maintaining the nation’s healthcare safety net. 
  • Voice your concerns over the negative effects of cutting Title VII funding. 
  • Thank the Senator for his/her leadership in ensuring better healthcare outcomes for all Americans. 
  • Ask the legislator to keep you advised of his or her actions on these important issues. 

Sincerely, 

[Your name and title

 
 

The Honorable [full name of the representative

United States House of Representatives 

Washington, D.C. 20515 

Dear Congressman/Congresswoman [last name of the congressman/congresswoman], 

Introduce yourself and explain your interest in supporting Title VII programs. If you are an alumnus of a Title VII program, elaborate on the positive impact it had on your education. 

  • Urge your Representative to support adding an additional $2 billion to the yearlong funding resolution to fund vital health and education programs. 
  • Urge the Representative to join you in supporting a restoration of Title VII funding to the FY05 level of $300 million. 
  • Explain why you believe that Title VII programs are essential to maintaining the nation’s healthcare safety net. 
  • Voice your concerns over the negative effects of cutting Title VII funding. 
  • Thank the Representative for his/her leadership in ensuring better health care outcomes for all Americans. 
  • Ask the legislator to keep you advised of his or her actions on these important issues. 

Sincerely, 

[Your name and title

 
 

When speaking to congressional offices it is important to remember that: 

  • You should always be honest; there is no need to exaggerate problems or results. 
  • You should give specific examples of your experiences. 
  • You should make sure the conversation stays polite and respectful. Listen to what they have to say and engage in constructive dialogue, even if it’s agreeing to disagree. 
  • You should never get frustrated or engage in an argument. Irreparable harm can be done by unnecessarily upsetting a legislator’s staff member.  
  • You should always begin and end the conversation by thanking them for taking time out of their busy schedule to discuss these issues with you. 

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies 

Representative 

Phone # 

Fax # 

Chairman David R. Obey (D-WI) 

202-225-3365 

715-842-4488 

Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) 

202-225-6506 

202-225-0546 

Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) 

202-225-3661 

202-225-4890 

Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) 

202-225-4911 

202-225-3290 

Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) 

202-225-1766 

202-226-0350 

Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) 

202-225-0773 

202-225-0899 

Barbara Lee (D-CA) 

202-225-2661 

202-225-9817 

Tom Udall (D-NM) 

202-225-6190 

202-226-1331 

Michael Honda (D-CA) 

202-225-2631 

202-225-2699 

Betty McCollum (D-MN) 

202-225-6631 

202-225-1968 

Tim Ryan (D-OH) 

202-225-5261 

202-225-3719 

Ranking Member James Walsh (R-NY) 

202-225-3701 

202-225-4042 

Ralph Regula (R-OH) 

202-225-3876 

202-225-3059 

John E. Peterson (R-PA) 

202-225-4306 

202-225-3549 

Dave Weldon (R-FL) 

202-225-5071 

202-225-5683 

Michael K. Simpson (R-ID) 

202-225-5121 

202-225-5796 

Dennis Rehberg (R-MT) 

(202) 225-3211 

(202) 225-5687 

Full House Appropriations Committee 

 

Representative 

Phone # 

Fax # 

Chairman David R. Obey (D-WI) 

202-225-3365 

715-842-4488 

John P. Murtha (D-PA) 

202-225-2065 

202-225-5709 

Norman D. Dicks (D-WA) 

202-225-5916 

202-226-1176 

Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV) 

202-225-4172 

202-225-7564 

Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) 

202-225-4146 

202-225-7711 

Peter J. Visclosky (D-IN) 

202-225-2461 

202-225-2493 

Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) 

202-225-6506 

202-225-0546 

Jose E. Serrano (D-NY) 

202-225-4361 

202-225-6001 

Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) 

202-225-3661 

202-225-4890 

James P. Moran (D-VA) 

202-225-4376 

202-225-0017 

John W. Olver (D-MA) 

202-225-5335 

202-226-1224 

Ed Pastor (D-AZ) 

202-225-4065 

202-225-1655 

David E. Price (D-NC) 

202-225-1784 

202-225-2014 

Chet Edwards (D-TX) 

202-225-6105 

202-225-0350 

Robert E. “Bud” Cramer Jr. (D-AL) 

202-225-4801 

202-225-4392 

Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) 

202-225-4911 

202-225-3290 

Maurice D. Hinchey (D-NY) 

202-225-6335 

202-226-0774 

Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) 

202-225-1766 

202-226-0350 

Sam Farr (D-CA) 

202-225-2861 

202-225-6791 

Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D-IL) 

202-225-0773 

202-225-0899 

Carolyn C. Kilpatrick (D-MI) 

202-225-2261 

202-225-5730 

F. Allen Boyd (D-FL) 

202-225-5235 

202-225-5615 

Chaka Fattah (D-PA) 

202-225-4001 

202-225-5392 

Steven R. Rothman (D-NJ) 

202-225-5061 

202-225-5851 

Stanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA) 

202-225-3631 

202-225-2203 

Marion Berry (D-AR) 

202-225-4076 

202-225-5602 

Barbara Lee (D-CA) 

202-225-2661 

202-225-9817 

Tom Udall (D-NM) 

202-225-6190 

202-226-1331 

Michael Honda (D-CA) 

202-225-2631 

202-225-2699 

Betty McCollum (D-MN) 

202-225-6631 

202-225-1968 

Tim Ryan (D-OH) 

202-225-5261 

202-225-3719 

Adam Schiff (D-CA) 

202-225-4176 

202-225-5828 

C.A. Ruppersberger (D-MD) 

202-225-3061 

202-225-3094 

Steve Israel (D-NY) 

202-225-3335 

202-225-4669 

Ben Chandler (D-KY) 

202-225-4706 

202-225-2122 

Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) 

202-225-7931 

202-226-2052 

Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX) 

202-225-4511 

202-225-2237 

Ranking Member Jerry Lewis (R-CA) 

202-225-5861 

202-225-6498 

C.W. Bill Young (R-FL) 

202-225-5961 

202-225-9764 

Ralph Regula (R-OH) 

202-225-3876 

202-225-3059 

Harold Rogers (R-KY) 

202-225-4601 

202-225-0940 

Frank R. Wolf (R-VA) 

202-225-5136 

202-225-0437 

James Walsh (R-NY) 

202-225-3701 

202-225-4042 

David L. Hobson (R-OH) 

202-225-4324 

202-225-1984 

Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) 

202-225-5802 

202-226-2356 

Jack Kingston (R-GA) 

202-225-5831 

202-226-2269 

Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) 

202-225-5034 

202-225-3186 

Roger F. Wicker (R-MS) 

202-225-4306 

202-225-3549 

Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) 

202-225-6216 

202-225-3489 

Zach Wamp (R-TN) 

202-225-3271 

202-225-3494 

Tom Latham (R-IA) 

202-225-5476 

202-225-3301 

Robert Aderholt (R-AL) 

202-225-4876 

202-225-5587 

Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) 

202-225-4404 

202-226-0326 

Kay Granger (R-TX) 

202-225-5071 

202-225-5683 

John E. Peterson (R-PA) 

202-225-5121 

202-225-5796 

Virgil Goode (R-VA) 

202-225-4711 

202-225-5681 

John Doolittle (R-CA) 

202-225-2511 

202-225-5444 

Ray La Hood (R-IL) 

202-225-6201 

202-225-9249 

Dave Weldon (R-FL) 

202-225-3671 

202-225-3516 

Michael K. Simpson 

202-225-5531 

202-225-8216 

John A. Culberson (R-TX) 

202-225-2571 

202-225-4381 

Mark Steven Kirk (R-IL) 

202-225-4835 

202-225-0837 

Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) 

202-225-2501 

202-225-2504 

Dennis R. Rehberg (R-MT) 

202-225-3211 

202-225-5687 

John Carter (R-TX) 

202-225-3846 

202-225-5886 

Rodney Alexander (R-LA) 

202-225-8490 

202-225-5639 

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
 
Education and Related Agencies
 

Senator 

Phone # 

Fax # 

Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) 

202-224-3254 

202-224-9369 

Daniel Inouye (D-HI) 

202-224-3934 

202-224-6747 

Herbert Kohl (D-WI) 

202-224-5653 

202-224-9787 

Patty Murray (D-WA) 

202-224-2621 

202-224-0238 

Mary Landrieu (D-LA) 

202-224-5824 

202-224-9735 

Richard Durbin (D-IL) 

202-224-2152 

202-228-0400 

Jack Reed (D-RI) 

202-224-4642 

202-224-4680 

Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) 

202-224-3224 

202-228-4054 

Ranking Member Arlen Specter (R-PA) 

202-224-4254 

202-228-1229 

Judd Gregg (R-NH) 

202-224-3324 

202-224-4952 

Larry Craig (R-ID) 

202-224-2752 

202-228-1067 

Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) 

202-224-5922 

202-224-0776 

Ted Stevens (R-AK) 

202-224-3004 

202-224-3254 

Richard Shelby (R-AL) 

202-224-5744 

202-224-3416 

Thad Cochran (R-MS) 

202-224-5054 

202-224-9450 

Full Senate Appropriations Committee 

Senator 

Phone # 

Fax # 

Chairman Robert Byrd (D-WV) 

202-224-3954 

202-228-0002 

Daniel Inouye (D-HI) 

202-224-3934 

202-224-6747 

Patrick Leahy (D-VT) 

202-224-4242 

202-224-3479 

Tom Harkin (D-IA) 

202-224-3254 

202-224-9369 

Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) 

202-224-4654 

202-224-8858 

Herbert Kohl (D-WI) 

202-224-5653 

202-224-9787 

Patty Murray (D-WA) 

202-224-2621 

202-224-0238 

Byron Dorgan (D-ND) 

202-224-2551 

202-224-1193 

Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) 

202-224-3841 

202-228-3954 

Richard Durbin (D-IL) 

202-224-2152 

202-228-0400 

Tim Johnson (D-SD) 

202-224-5842 

202-228-5765 

Mary Landrieu (D-LA) 

202-224-5824 

202-224-9735 

Jack Reed (D-RI) 

202-224-4642 

202-224-4680 

Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) 

202-224-3224 

202-228-4054 

Ben Nelson (D-NE) 

202-224-6551 

202-228-0012 

Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-MS) 

202-224-5054 

202-224-9450 

Ted Stevens (R-AK) 

202-224-3004 

202-224-3254 

Arlen Specter (R-PA) 

202-224-5254 

202-228-1229 

Pete Domenici (R-NM) 

202-224-6621 

202-228-3261 

Christopher Bond (R-MO) 

202-224-5721 

202-224-8149 

Mitch McConnell (R-KY) 

202-224-2541 

202-224-2499 

Richard Shelby (R-AL) 

202-224-5744 

202-224-3416 

Judd Gregg (R-NH) 

202-224-3324 

202-224-4952 

Robert Bennett (R-UT) 

202-224-5444 

202-228-1168 

Larry Craig (R-ID) 

202- 224-2752 

202-228-1067 

Sam Brownback (R-KS) 

202-224-6521 

202-228-1265 

Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) 

202-224-5922 

202-224-0776 

Wayne Allard (R-CO) 

202-224-5941 

202-224-6471 

Lamar Alexander (R-TN) 

202-224-4944 

202-228-3398 

Title VII Health Professions Programs 

FY 2007 Funding 

($ in thousands) 

 

FY 2005 Final 

FY 2006 Final 

Percent Change 

 

FY 2007 

House Committee 

Percent Change 

(compared to FY 2006) 

FY 2007 Senate Committee 

Percent Change 

(compared to FY 2006) 

Centers of Excellence 

33,609 

11,880 

-64.7% 

11,800 

0% 

11,872 

0% 

Health Careers Opportunity Program 

35,647 

 

3,957 

 

-88.9% 

 

 

-100% 

 

3,957 

 

0% 

Faculty Loan Repayment 

1,302 

1,288 

-1.0% 

-100% 

1,288 

0% 

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students 

 

47,128 

 

46,657 

 

-1.0% 

 

46,657 

 

0% 

 

46,625 

 

0% 

Total, Diversity 

117,686 

63,786 

-45.8% 

58,537 

-8.2% 

63,742 

0% 

PC Medicine and Dentistry 

88,816 

 

40,851 

 

-54.0% 

 

40,851 

 

0% 

 

50,000 

 

22.4% 

AHECs 

28,972 

28,681 

-1.0% 

28,681 

0% 

28,661 

0% 

HETCs 

3,820 

-100.0% 

0% 

0% 

Allied Health and other disciplines 

11,754 

 

3,960 

 

-66.3% 

 

3,960 

 

0% 

 

4,000 

 

0% 

Geriatric 

31,551 

-100.0% 

31,548 

-- 

0% 

Rural training 

6,077 

-100.0% 

0% 

0% 

Total, Interdisciplinary 

82,174 

32,641 

-60.3% 

64,189 

96.7% 

32,661 

0% 

Workforce Info & Analysis 

716 

 

0 

 

-100.0% 

 

0 

 

0% 

 

0 

0% 

Public Health, Preventive, and Dental 

9,097 

 

7,920 

 

-12.9% 

 

 

-100% 

 

8,000 

 

1.0% 

Health administration 

1,070 

-100.0% 

0% 

0% 

Total, PH Workforce Development 

10,167 

 

7,920 

 

-22.1% 

 

0 

 

-100% 

 

8,000 

 

1.0% 

Total, Title VII Health Professions 

299,552 

 

145,198 

 

-51.5% 

 

163,577 

 

12.7% 

 

154,403 

 

6.3% 

Source: House and Senate Appropriations Committees
Contact: Erica Froyd, Association of American Medical Colleges, (202) 828-0558, efroyd@aamc.org