On March 23, AACC and other stakeholders sent a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, urging Congress to fully fund the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program at its $100 million authorization level and provide $50 million to launch the new Bio-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program at the Health Resources and Services Administration. State and local health departments have lost much of their workforce over the past decade and tens of thousands of new staff are projected to be needed to fill the gap in the coming years. Without it, the availability of many essential services such as screening and treatment for both chronic and communicable diseases; maternal and child health services; epidemiology and surveillance; routine immunizations; primary prevention services; and regulation, inspection, or licensing could be threatened, especially in rural areas. The association has always recognized the importance of programs that support public health and infectious disease workforces and will continue to support these efforts.