APHL serves as a liaison to federal agencies, building relations with the CDC, EPA, FDA, DHS and other governmental bodies on members’ behalf.
A staple element of the association’s policy work is advocacy for funding for critical laboratory needs: personnel, facilities, equipment, continuing education and forward-looking initiatives like biomonitoring and CT preparedness.
APHL’s annual spring Hill Day is a key element of a broader effort to educate lawmakers about the value of public laboratories as Congressional and national resources. Members are invited to visit members of Congress. In recent years, targeted APHL advocacy has staved off proposals to cut millions of dollars from the CDC budget for state and local emergency preparedness activities.
APHL’s communications department promotes laboratory issues to the media and helps members facilitate their own media relations with resources such as expert laboratory spokespersons to address high-profile issues and message palettes to help laboratory directors respond directly to press inquiries in high-pressure situations.
APHL advances members’ interest in building worldwide laboratory capacity via representation in international venues, such as the World Health Organization and international PulseNet networks.