Jefferson Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 7, 2024 – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, secured $2.2 million for the University of West Alabama in the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The funds will aid in procuring updated high-fidelity nursing simulation equipment to enhance healthcare workforce education and training.

“Health care is critical for the wellbeing of communities across the state of Alabama. This $2.2 million investment into the University of West Alabama for nursing simulation equipment will help ensure the next generation of health care professionals are well educated and trained on how to serve local families and communities, including in our rural areas,” said Senator Britt. “When I joined the Appropriations Committee, I promised to return your hard-earned taxpayer dollars to Alabama. These dollars are returning home to our great state in a significant way in order to invest in quality medical services for Alabamians.”

The FY25 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

Senator Britt secured $15.218 million for healthcare funding in the FY25 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

Background:

Senator Britt has made healthcare, including rural and maternal care, a top legislative priority during her first 19 months in office. She joined Senator Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) in introducing the NIH IMPROVE Act. Their bipartisan legislation would provide consistent support and resources for the NIH to conduct important research into the causes of America’s maternal mortality crisis and improve healthcare outcomes for women before, during, and after pregnancy.

Additionally, Senator Britt joined Senators Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) in introducing the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act. This bipartisan legislation would expand access to maternal care by offering support for rural healthcare facilities and doctors to provide urgent obstetric care. This is especially important for Alabama as 55 of its 67 counties are considered rural.

Senator Britt also reintroduced the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in September 2023. This bipartisan bicameral legislation would eliminate copays and other out-of-pocket expenses for breast cancer diagnostic tests, making them more accessible and affordable.

Last December, Senator Britt joined a bipartisan group of 59 Senate colleagues in reintroducing the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2023. This bill would expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make permanent COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities, improve health outcomes, and make it easier for patients to connect with their doctors—especially important in rural areas.

Additionally, she cosponsored two pieces of bipartisan legislation to help all Alabamians access insulin: The Affordable Insulin Now Act of 2023—which would cap insulin prices at $35 for a 30-day supply—and The Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act of 2023—which addresses skyrocketing insulin costs comprehensively by removing barriers to care.

Senator Britt also introduced The Youth Mental Health Research Act with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). This act aims to create a national Youth Mental Health Research Initiative guiding long-term mental health efforts while better targeting preventive interventions for those at risk.

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