Trust for America's Health Statement on the Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention for America Act

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Jan 22, 2013, 04:09 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Trust for America's Health (TFAH) applauds Senator Tom Harkin (IA) for re-introducing the Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention (HeLP) for America Act—an important step in moving the country from a sick care system to a health care system.

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The following is a statement from Jeffrey Levi, Ph.D., executive director of TFAH.

"More than half of Americans are living with one or more serious, chronic disease ranging from type 2 diabetes to cancer and chronic diseases are responsible for seven out of every 10 deaths.

The HeLP for America Act recognizes that enabling everyone to be as healthy as they choose requires access to healthy choices where they live, learn, work and play.

In addition, the Act outlines how every sector—from public health to housing to education to transportation—plays an integral role in moving the nation's sick care system to a true health care system.

By prioritizing prevention in the HeLP for America Act, Senator Harkin has reaffirmed his unwavering support for health promotion and disease prevention. Investing in prevention will save lives and billions of dollars by keeping Americans healthy in the first place.

TFAH hopes the 113^th Congress makes prevention one of the hallmarks of the first session."

On January 29, TFAH will release A Healthier America: Strategies to Move from Sick Care to Health Care in Four Years, which provides high-impact recommendations to prioritize prevention and improve the health of Americans.

Trust for America's Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority. www.healthyamericans.org

SOURCE Trust for America's Health