SPAN Executive Co-Director, Diana Autin, testified before the Health Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on June 4, 2019. SPAN has played a vital role in boosting the need for F2Fs and recognizes that, for New Jersey, it is due to the hard work and support of NJ Representatives Pallone and Sherrill and NJ Senator Menendez that this legislation, which will provide greater stability to the network of F2Fs, has been introduced and is expected to pass.
On July 11, the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy & Commerce Committee favorably reported out legislation that includes a provision to extend F2F funding for four more years — through FY 2023. (The provision is part of H.R. 2328, which was amended during committee consideration.) The full committee is expected to take up the legislation next week. The 4-year funding extension reflects a bipartisan compromise. The free-standing F2F bill (H.R. 2822) would have extended the program for five more years, while a bill offered by the subcommittee’s Republican Ranking Member (H.R. 2700), would have extended the program for only one more year. The same 4-year funding extension was provided for several other popular public health programs, including the Community Health Center Fund, the National Health Service Corps, the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program, the Special Diabetes Program, and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians. For more details, see the Committee Chairman’s Briefing Memo (p. 4, section VIII.A.). It is not clear when the legislation will move to consideration by the full House. No action has been taken yet on the bipartisan Senate bill that currently would extend F2F funding for five more years (S. 1647).
