TO: ASTP Board of Directors
ASTP Public Policy Committee
FROM: ASTP Public Policy Staff
DATE: September 17, 1998
RE: NIH Funding!!!
On September 15th we sent you an
action alert asking that you contact your Members of Congress
urging them to support the FY 1999 Labor, Health and Human
Services (HHS), and Education Appropriations bill. The ASTP
Public Policy Staff has learned that it is now very unlikely
that the FY 1999 Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations measure
will be considered as a stand-alone bill. All indications lead
to this spending measure being combined into one large funding
bill for FY 1999, and/or a continuing resolution (CR).
The ASTP urges you to continue
to call, fax, or e-mail your Representatives and Senators
to let them know that:
- NIH funding is extremely important;
and
- That NIH allocations in a
combined funding bill or continuing resolution should reflect
the recommendations approved by the Senate Appropriations
Labor, HHS, and Education Subcommittee.
The Senate Subcommittee approved
a $2 billion increase for the NIH, or a 14.7% increase, including
increases of 14.0% for the NIDDK, 14.2% for the NIAID, and
13.3% for the NHLBI. In contacting your Members of Congress,
please explain how this increase would positively impact
progress in medical research, and most importantly, how this
funding effects your patients in their district!!!
To identify your Member of Congress,
you can use the Internet or call Eric Byer, ASTP Senior Public
Policy Coordinator, at (202) 857-5322. On the Internet, please
go to http://www.voxpop.org/classicindex.morph and
type in your 5-digit zip code. Once you have identified your
Member of Congress, you can click http://www.voxpop.org/classic/email.html to
e-mail your Members of Congress requesting their support for
NIH funding. You may also call your Member of Congress by dialing
the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Ask to be connected
to your Member's office and then ask to speak with the health
care legislative assistant. Once again, if you do not have
web access, please call Eric Byer, ASTP Senior Public Policy
Coordinator, at (202) 857-5322 for help in identifying your
Member of Congress.
Press upon Congress why medical
research funding is important to you, as their constituent,
and why it is important to those that live in their districts!!!
