Governors in 15 states announced the launch of the Governors Public Health Alliance designed to protect the health of people across the United States.
The initiative will help states and territories to coordinate and address health threats across state lines, officials said. It will serve as a nonpartisan coordinating hub for governors and their public health leaders. The Governors Public Health Alliance will support governors and their states in coordinating and collaborating on public health by sharing data and communicating about public health threat guidance and policy. The alliance will also deploy experts when needed.
Governor participants include Govs. Bob Ferguson (D-WA), Josh Green (D-HI), Maura Healey (D-MA), Kathy Hochul (D-NY), Tina Kotek (D-OR), Ned Lamont (D-CT), Lou Leon Guerrero (D-GU), Dan McKee (D-RI), Matt Meyer (D-DE), Wes Moore (D-MD), Phil Murphy (D-NJ), Gavin Newsom (D-CA), Jared Polis (D-CO), JB Pritzker (D-IL), and Josh Stein (D-NC).
“We can no longer rely on the information coming out of Washington, D.C., but our states are coming together to unequivocally state that science still matters,” Ferguson said. “Diseases don’t stop at state borders — and preparedness shouldn’t either. By joining forces, we will act faster and communicate better to ensure our communities stay healthy.”
The Governors Public Health Alliance would complement existing mechanisms and work with other public health entities like the Northeast Public Health Collaborative and the West Coast Health Alliance. The new initiative would serve as a cross-state liaison with the global health community and facilitate cross-state collaboration, officials said.
“From undermining vaccine access and abortion rights to slashing billions in Medicaid funding from those in need, the federal government is wreaking havoc on public health and the institutions we rely on,” Hochul said. “The Governors Public Health Alliance will allow our states to share resources, coordinate with global partners, and deploy the tools and information needed to meet public health threats and protect the American people.”