For the Affordable Care Act to truly succeed in improving health and reducing costs, we must shift the health system toward prevention. That’s exactly what the Prevention and Public Health Fund is doing by supporting communities across the country as they develop ways to prevent diabetes and reduce the impact of secondhand smoke.

Ironically the Fund is also one of the pieces of the ACA that health reform opponents are now targeting for cuts during the “fiscal cliff” negotiations. We need to let members and leaders of Congress, as well as the Obama administration, know how important it is to continue the Fund and maintain its funding.

Members of the California Congressional delegation have already sent a letter to the President urging him to resist efforts to take money out of this critical fund, but we still need other members of Congress to join in this effort. Please contact your Representatives asking them to communicate their support for the Prevention and Public Health Fund to the White House and Congressional leadership.  

If you have time, please also call the House and Senate leaders and tell them not to cut the Prevention and Public Health Fund during budget negotiations.

• House Speaker John Boehner: 202-225-6205
• House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi: 202-225-4965
• Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: 202-224-3542
• Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: 202-224-2541

Tell Congress -- don't cut our ounce of prevention.