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Rep. Price – An Advocate for Public Health Amidst the Trump Administration
A perspective from Joanne Johnson
Joanne Johnson is an Advocacy Fellow for the Fund for Global Health
Representative David Price (NC-4) has long been a supporter of healthcare both in the U.S and globally. In his own words, global health is crucial to “protect the most vulnerable, while also continuing to ensure continuity of essential health services” [1]. In his role serving on the House State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs (SFOPS) sub-committee for over 30 years, Rep Price has had the authority and platform to drive decisions on global health priorities. Time and again, he has proved to be an ally for international humanitarian health aid, health systems strengthening, human rights, and equality.
In 2021, Congressman Price and the rest of SFOPS worked together to allocate $10 billion in emergency COVID relief, with $2.5 billion going to support global initiatives like vaccine development. They also ensured $26 billion for bilateral humanitarian aid and development [2].
Rep Price also played a key role in promoting health equity. He supported House bills protecting global sexual and reproductive health rights (HR 3576 & HR 3938), expanding primary care to underserved communities (HR 5141), and ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for refugees (HR 1158) [3].
Many of these actions stood in direct contrast to the Trump administration, which threatened or completely cut off funding for key global and national public health programs. Rep Price and others on SFOPS advocated hard to restore funding for the World Health Organization, get a $175 billion increase for U.S. family planning services, and $23 billion increase to fund the United Nations Population Fund (promoting global sexual and reproductive health) [2].
Congressman Price has also stood out as a bold advocate for LGBTQ+ populations. He supports introduced legislation working to prevent global LGBTQI discrimination and gender-based violence (HR 1201) [3]. By passing the Global Equality Act, Price and SFOPS committed $10 million to the Global Equity Fund, $6 million for the global protection of LGBTQI peoples, and created a special envoy for the human rights of LGBTQI persons [2].
In 2020, Price once again showed his innovative leadership in global health by writing to Administrator Bursa, of the US Agency of International Development. In his letter, he gathered support from fellow members of Congress to support international frontline health delivery, occupational safety, and international coordination and accountability [1]. This stands out at a time when the Trump administration was calling to end financial and logistical support for combatting COVID abroad. Price recognized that global infectious disease management is a matter of national security and advocated for strong investments in frontline health workers and primary care.
As he gets ready to retire this December, North Carolinians should make sure and remember Representative Price’s brave commitment to public health, equality, and human rights both in the U.S. and abroad. District 4 is known as an innovator in healthcare practice, technology, and education, and we should all thank Rep Price for being a strong leader at our helm.
References:
- Price D, Diaz-Balart M, Lowey N, Lee B, Fortenberry J, Meng G. Letter from Congress of the United States, Washington DC, 20515. Published online August 6, 2020.
- Fact Sheet: State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs | House Committee on Appropriations, FY2021. appropriations.house.gov. July 17, 2020.
- U.S. Congress. Representative David E. Price. Congress.gov. July 10, 2022. https://www.congress.gov/member/david-price
(featured image: Julia Wall/The News & Observer via AP)
“Viewpoints” on Chapelboro is a recurring series of community-submitted opinion columns. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work or reporting of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com.
