Our federal appropriations advocacy advances community-centered investments that strengthen health, safety, and wellbeing through prevention, racial justice, and health equity. A core goal is increasing the flow of federal resources to community-based organizations and institutions leading community-driven solutions.

In addition to supporting numerous appropriations requests initiated by partners and national networks, we submit our own prioritized funding requests. We combine coalition engagement with targeted advocacy while working to safeguard programs and funding streams from reductions and disruptions that weaken prevention and public health capacity.

Our Standing Federal Appropriations Priorities

Community Safety

We advocate for sustained and expanded funding for community safety grounded in a public health approach. Priorities include CDC’s Youth Violence Prevention funding line to expand community-driven, evidence-based strategies in communities facing the highest burden of violence and strengthen the flow of resources to local prevention partners. Additionally, we advocate for sustained investment in firearm injury and mortality prevention research to advance equity-centered strategies that prevent suicide and interpersonal violence. We work to protect CDC’s core injury and violence prevention functions through the Injury Center, preserving the federal infrastructure that supports local implementation.

Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH)

We advocate for expanded funding for CDC’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program and the associated Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country program to address persistent racial and ethnic health inequities through community-driven prevention. The core REACH program funds local health departments, tribes, universities, cities, and community-based organizations to implement evidence-based strategies that improve nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding support, smoke-free environments, and connections to care. Because demand consistently exceeds available funding, increased investment allows CDC to support additional community and tribal partners advancing locally tailored prevention strategies.

Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure

We support strong, sustained federal investment in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to strengthen the nation’s prevention infrastructure, workforce, and core public health programs. Our advocacy prioritizes preserving CDC’s core prevention functions, scientific expertise, and technical assistance capacity while ensuring stable funding that allows communities to plan, implement, and scale evidence-based strategies that advance long-term health, safety, and wellbeing.