Public Health

From preventing and treating HIV/AIDS to reducing the incidence of asthma, Congressman Towns has had a lifelong commitment to strengthening our public health system. A former administrator at Beth Israel Medical Center, Towns believes that hospitals and public health departments serve as the glue that holds together our public health system.

Most recently, Towns requested that the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, examine whether the rush to inoculate millions of public health officials against smallpox is jeopardizing other bioterrorism priorities as well as health care services traditionally performed by health departments, such as prenatal care and check-ups for low-income children. This study has become even more important with the emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Earlier this year, he helped organize a conference on Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV co-infection, where he called for additional funding and research into this growing health problem.

Towns has also introduced legislation to tackle some of the nation's worst public health problems including asthma and obesity. Asthma is a major public health problem of increasing concern, affecting nearly 5 million people who are younger than 18 years of age. Between 1980 and 1994, the prevalence of asthma increased by 75%. Unfortunately, low-income populations, minorities, and children living in inner cities experience disproportionately higher incidence of diseases and mortality due to asthma.

Last Congress, he introduced H.R. 4824, The Urban Asthma Assistance Act which would provide additional intervention program grants to address the incidence of asthma in urban areas. The bill would also require the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop and disseminate guidelines on the collection and reporting of asthma data. Additionally, the bill would enable States to develop model asthma treatment center demonstration programs. Congressman Towns expects to introduce this bill again in the 108^th Congress.

Obesity has increased at such unprecedented levels that health professionals are calling obesity a national epidemic. Spurred by sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets, about 60 percent of American adults are overweight and 15 percent of children and teenagers are overweight. Being overweight is associated with increased risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and asthma. To help address this problem for the most severely overweight, Towns introduced H.R. 2024, The Medicaid Obesity Treatment Act to require Medicaid to provide drug coverage for the prescribed treatment of obesity.

Related Press Releases

4/18/2008
Towns Investigates Sewage Sludge Experiment in Minority Neighborhoods

4/9/2008
U.S. Representatives Edolphus Towns and Cliff Stearns Introduce Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act - National Federation of the Blind Applauds Measure to Protect Lives and Preserve Independence of Blind Americans

4/4/2008
Major Pedestrian Safety Legislation to be Introduced

4/2/2008
REP. TOWNS BACKS LANDMARK BILL TO REAUTHORIZE HISTORIC U.S. EFFORT TO COMBAT GLOBAL HIV/AIDS, TB, AND MALARIA This Program Has Already Saved Millions of Lives and Can Help RestoreAmerican Moral Leadership Around the World

6/29/2007
Congressman Edolphus Towns Supports Bill to Fight HIV/Aids and End Genocide in Darfur

9/29/2006
Congressman Towns Leads Fight for 'Fair Funding' for HIV/AIDS