U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) have called upon the Senate Appropriations Committee to increase funding for the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHS) in FY 2025 by at least $32 million. The senators argue that this additional funding is crucial to ensure that these highly-trained frontline workers are always ready and fully-deployable to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all Americans.
Currently, the PHS is the only uniformed service without a budget line item dedicated to service operations and maintenance. "The PHS, as one of the eight uniformed services and the only service with an exclusive focus on public health, is at the forefront of protecting our nation’s health," wrote the lawmakers in their letter to Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), chair and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee.
PHS personnel serve as the Department of Health’s primary public health emergency asset both domestically and globally. These service members have been on the frontlines during public health emergencies such as the Ebola outbreak, September 11 attacks, COVID-19 pandemic, and most recently during last year's Maui wildfires.
The lawmakers continued by expressing their disappointment over what they perceive as a significant funding shortfall for PHS in President's Budget. They warn that without sufficient funding, America’s ability to respond to future health crises will be hampered.
This call for increased funding has received support from organizations such as Commissioned Officers Association (COA), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), and Reserve Organization of America (ROA).
In conclusion, Senators Hirono, Wyden, and Duckworth emphasized the critical role played by PHS in safeguarding public health and reiterated their strong support for increased funding to sustain its vital operations.