Rep. Axne Welcomes New $1,700,000 Preventative Health Block Grant

Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) welcomed a new Preventative Health and Health Services (PHHS) block grant totaling $1,735,326 for the Iowa Department of Public Health.

The PHHS block grant will allow Iowa to continue to meet specific community health needs while combating the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and other emerging health issues.

“Whether we’re responding to a global pandemic or an increase in youth smoking, the health needs of our communities are always changing – and federal programs that deliver essential funding with flexibility are key to allowing the professionals closest to the ground to determine where funding is needed in our communities,” said Rep. Axne. “I’m glad to see additional funds coming back to Iowa to allow us to meet current and future health challenges. I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress to secure additional funds for PHHS block grants – it is clear that the need for these funds has only increased since COVID-19.”

For more than 30 years, PHHS block grants have served as an essential source of funding for state health agencies, but their funding has not been increased since 1999.

Rep. Axne has been a strong advocate for increasing funding for PHHS block grants. Earlier this year, she led a bipartisan letter to congressional appropriators asking for a $170 million increase for PHHS in Fiscal Year 2021.