Collins supported stand-alone amendment to defund program that has provided $41 million for public health infrastructure in Maine

 

Since its creation in 2010, the Prevention and Public Health Fund has awarded more than $41 million in grants to Maine for community and clinical prevention efforts and public health infrastructure improvements -- specifically, epidemiology and infectious disease laboratory grants to bolster the state’s epidemic response preparedness. But, in addition to voting to eliminate the fund as part of her many votes to repeal the ACA, Senator Susan Collins has voted at least six times against funding for the program, including a vote to specifically defund the Prevention and Public Health Fund entirely.

 

Senator Collins has a long established record of voting against health care, including more than a dozen votes to gut protections for preexisting conditions and a vote for the GOP tax bill that paved the way for a lawsuit that could lead to a 164% increase in the number of uninsured Mainers. Her failure to prioritize investments in public health and health care coverage has left our communities at greater risk.

 

“Despite warnings from experts that the United States was unprepared for a pandemic, Senator Collins voted repeatedly against funding our first lines of defense--prevention efforts and public health infrastructure,” said Maine Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Marra. “Her votes against investments in our public health were shortsided and dangerous.”

 

Read more about Senator Collins’ extensive record of voting against public health:

 

  • 2012: Collins Voted To “Prohibit Funding For The Prevention And Public Health Fund.” [CQ, 6/14/12]

 

  • 2012: Collins Voted To “Prohibit Funding For Publicity Or Advertising Purposes To Promote The Prevention And Public Health Fund.” [CQ, 6/14/12]

 

  • 2013: Collins Voted Against Reporting Out Of The Appropriations Committee The FY2014 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill, Which Included $1 Billion For The Prevention And Public Health Fund. [CQ, 7/11/13]

 

  • 2012: Collins Voted Against Reporting Out Of The Appropriations Committee The FY2013 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill, Which Included $1 Billion For The Prevention And Public Health Fund. [CQ, 6/14/12]

 

  • 2011: Collins Voted Against Reporting Out Of Committee The FY2012 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill That Included Specified Spending By The Prevention And Public Health Fund. [CQ, 9/21/11]

 

  • 2010: Collins Voted Against Reporting Out Of Committee The FY2011 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill That Included $750 Million In Mandatory Spending For The Prevention And Public Health Fund. [CQ, 7/29/10]

 

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