The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) continues to lead partners and collaborate with Congressional champions in support of the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant (Title V MCH Block Grant) through the annual federal appropriations process for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24).
In July 2023, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee passed the FY24 Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill, including a slight decrease to the Title V Block Grant. The House has also proposed significant cuts to the Title V Block Grant. While we appreciate that House and Senate Appropriations Committees maintained level funding of the state grant portion of the Title V Block Grant, we remain extremely concerned about the proposed funding reductions for the Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS) portion—a $35 million cut in the House and a $10 million cut in the Senate. A loss of SPRANS funding could detrimentally impact MCH populations, providers, public health professionals, and trainees in a sweeping way. Currently, $212.1 million in SPRANS funding supports the innovative MCH work of 201 grantees across 59 states and jurisdictions.
On October 6, AMCHP led 55 national organizations and academic institutions in sending a letter to the leadership of House and Senate Appropriations Committees supporting the restoration of and increased Title V SPRANS funding in FY24. The letter demonstrates the broad support for funding the Title V Block Grant to improve maternal and child health. Read the letter and view the signers.
While we recognize the fiscal constraints and polarization of the current political environment, AMCHP continues to urge Congress to fund the MCH Block Grant at $1 billion in FY24, including an increase for the state formula fund.
HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED AND STAY INFORMED?
The AMCHP Government Affairs Team will continue to advocate for funding increases to the Title V MCH Block Grant throughout the FY24 appropriations process and beyond. AMCHP strives to uplift your stories when advocating for robust Title V funding. Please email Amani Echols (aechols@amchp.org) to share how reduced SPRANS funding and a potential government shutdown due to the FY2024 appropriations process would affect your Title V programs and MCH populations.
To learn more and stay up-to-date about AMCHP’s appropriations efforts:
- Check out our Government Affairs webpage for our FY24 appropriations work to date;
- Review our AMCHP Title V MCH Block Grant: FY24 Funding Ask Sheet;
- Register for the AMCHP Policy & Partnership Town Hall Series, which occurs on the second Thursday of every month at 2 PM EST; and
- Sign-up for AMCHP Legislative Alerts.
As always, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with AMCHP’s Government Affairs Team: Sherie Lou Santos (ssantos@amchp.org) and Amani Echols (aechols@amchp.org).
