LEGISLATIVE ALERT

TO: American Society of Transplantation Members
FROM: AST Public Policy Staff
DATE: March 31, 1999
RE: Senate Rejects Budget

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Amendment Increasing NIH Funding Late last week, both the Senate and the House approved their respective budget resolutions that will serve as a fiscal blueprint directing the course of federal tax and spending legislation. While the budget resolution is non-binding, it acts as a road map for the beginning the appropriations process.

The Senate fiscal year 2000 budget resolution calls for $778 billion in tax cuts over the next 10 years. An amendment was offered by Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) which sought to provide $1.4 billion for biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Senate rejected this amendment which would have increased the allocation for the NIH within the budget resolution.

The Senate's approved budget resolution seeks to increase the function for health funding by $600 million in FY 2000, this amount would not be adequate as a second installment to double the NIH budget by FY 2003. If you have not done so already, please take a moment to send the following letter to the Senators and Representatives serving on the Appropriations Committees (list of members attached) requesting their support for an increase in funding for NIH during the appropriations process. AST grassroots abilities would greatly benefit from your involvement and assistance.

The budget resolutions now go to a Conference Committee of the House and Senate to reconcile differences between the two versions of the resolutions. AST Public Policy staff will continue to monitor these actions and keep you informed of any decisions affecting AST and its membership. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Bill Applegate, 202-429-5114.

Attachment

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March 31, 1999

SENATOR or REPRESENTATIVE (FILL IN NAME)
(FILL IN ADDRESS)
Washington, D.C. (Senate - 20510) (House - 20515)

Dear SENATOR or REPRESENTATIVE:

As a member of the American Society of Transplantation (AST), I am writing to ask that you secure adequate funding for our nation's medical research programs during the appropriations process. Specifically, I urge you to take an active role during Committee proceedings and floor consideration to fund the National Institutes of Health (NIH) beyond the Administration's modest proposed increase of 2.1% over FY 1999 levels. Specifically, I am asking that you provide an additional 15% for NIH, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

The American Society of Transplantation is an organization of 1,300 transplant physicians and scientists within the specialties of nephrology, gastroenterology, immunology, cardiology, pulmonology, surgery, and pediatrics who are dedicated to research, education, advocacy and patient care in transplantation science and medicine.

As you know, AST strongly supports the doubling of the NIH budget by FY 2003. Last year, Congress worked effectively toward this goal by providing NIH with an increase of $2 billion. The Administration's proposed budget for FY 2000, however, would dramatically alter this carefully set course and seriously undermine the positive and meaningful gains made in the previous year. Under the President's plan, the number of new and competing research project grants would be reduced by approximately 17%. Further, no increase would be made in the average cost of new awards and non-competing awards. These and other shortcomings associated with the President's budget require our immediate attention.

We must work together to provide NIH with sustained and increased funding. Through this important investment, we can expand our base of scientific knowledge, which in turn will offer each American the promise of better health, lower health care costs, and an overall improved quality of life. As a result, AST urges you to continue your leadership and support of health research throughout the appropriations process.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (FILL IN YOUR PHONE NUMBER HERE).

Sincerely,
YOUR NAME,
Member of AST

Senaters