Jon L. Christensen: “this LHHS appropriation bill not only undermines what would otherwise be our nations greatest resource, its people, but…”

“this LHHS appropriation bill not only undermines what would otherwise be our nations greatest resource, its people, but as a document is not worthy of what I believe this country stands for. As a matter of fact, as I look at what the Republican leadership lays out in this budget, I just don't know any more what we as a Nation stand for. We obviously don't stand for equal and the best health care for every American, when you look at the imposition of an 11.9% cut in the programs of the Health Resources and Services Administration and the elimination of Sickle Cell programs, Universal Newborn Hearing, and Emergency Medical Services for Children. We also don't believe that in this increasingly diverse country that our residents should be able to communicate fully with their healthcare provider--the health professions programs that are key to eliminating health care disparities are decimated. It appears we don't understand or don't care that the African American community which is so devastated by HIV/AIDS has to have the resources itself to reverse its toll. And we obviously don't care that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This country would rather neglect prevention and early care in favor of the high tech, more expensive treatments that come too little and too late if at all to the poor, the rural, the people of color to make a significant difference. But that is fully in keeping with why we are where we are in this bill in the first place.…”