News & Events: Legislation
House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee Approves FY 2008 Spending Bill
The House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee June 7 approved its FY 2008 spending bill. The subcommittee was working with an allocation of $151.1 billion, an increase of $6.6 billion (4.6 percent) over the current year's funding level.
For the National Institutes of Health, the bill provides $29.650 billion, an increase of $750 million (2.6 percent) above the current year's funding level and $1.029 billion (3.6 percent) above the President's request. However, the bill also increases the amount of the transfer from NIH to the Global HIV/AIDS fund from the $99 million in FY 2007 to $300 million in FY 2008, which means the net increase in the NIH budget is $549 million (1.9 percent) over FY 2007.
The full House Appropriations Committee is tentatively scheduled to consider the bill June 14, with House floor action the following week.
Congress Passes the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act Again Oppose a Presidential Veto
Champions and advocates of research secured another victory in the effort to expand federal support for embryonic stem cell research yesterday. The House of Representatives passed S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, with strong bipartisan support, 247 to 176.
In a statement following the House vote, President Bush said he will veto the bill. Tell the President that you oppose his position and urge him to reconsider.
Be sure to thank your Representative for supporting the Stem Cell Research Enhancement. Take action now!
Tell the President
Thank your Representative
President's Budget Request for FY 2008
The President released his FY 2008 budget request on Monday, February 5. The President's budget for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) calls for
$28.621 billion in budget authority appropriated through the Labor-HHS subcommittee. The budget documents portray this as an increase of $232 million over the Administration's estimate for FY 2007. However, this estimate, like all of the FY 2007 numbers in the budget, is based on the current continuing resolution, which is an extension of the FY 2006 funding level, and does not reflect the FY 2007 Joint Funding resolution (H.J.Res.
20) the House passed on January 31. The FY 2007 Joint Funding resolution provides $28.931 billion for NIH. This includes $99 million to be transferred to the Global AIDS fund, for a net of $28.832 billion. Looking at the Administration's budget in a comparable fashion, the President's proposal for $28.621 billion includes $300 million for the Global Aids fund, for a net of $28.321 billion. Thus, the President's budget is $511 million
(1.7 percent) below the funding level proposed in the FY 2007 Joint Funding resolution.
NIH has posted a summary of the President's request on the Web at:
http://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/PDF/Press%20info-2008.pdf
NIH's Congressional Justification is available on the Web at:
http://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/FY07/Overview.pdf
On Monday, NIH also released a report updating the Biomedical Research and Development Price Index (BRDPI) http://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/PDF/BRDPI_letter_2_5_07.pdf
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) in the U.S. Department of Commerce estimates an actual 4.5 percent increase in the BRDPI for FY 2006. The BEA staff also revised last year's preliminary estimate for FY 2005 upwards slightly from 3.8 percent to 3.9 percent. The Office of Portfolio Analysis and Strategic Initiatives (OPASI) within the Office of the Director NIH prepares estimated projections for future year values of the BRDPI. It is projected that the BRDPI may increase by 3.7 percent for both FY 2007 and FY 2008; 3.6 percent for FY 2009 and 2010; and 3.5 percent for FY 2011 and FY 2012.
Request Increased Funding for NIH and CDC in 2007!
Request Increased Funding for NIH and CDC in 2007
More than $7 Billion Available in Proposed Continuing Resolution
Representative David Obey (WI) and Senator Robert Byrd (WV), the incoming Chairs of the Appropriations Committees, have announced they will seek a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the unfinished appropriations bills though the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2007. More than $7 billion will be available in the CR to increase funding for priorities such as health and education, due in part to a moratorium on earmarks in the bill.
Please contact your Representative and Senators immediately to urge them to increase funding for the NIH and CDC in 2007. Congress is anxious to pass 2007 appropriations quickly so they can focus on the FY 2008 budget process.
Take action now! Write to your Representative and Senators. If your Representative or Senator was recently elected, please call their district office prior to January 4. A list of freshmen and their phone numbers is included below.
Harry Mitchell (Arizona - 5), (480) 755-3343
Gabrielle Giffords (Arizona - 8), (520) 512-0012
Gerald McNerney (California - 11), (925) 833-0643
Kevin McCarthy (California - 22), (661) 324-3424
Doug Lamborn (Colorado - 5), (719) 266-6117
Ed Perlmutter (Colorado - 7), (303) 459-4729
Joseph Courtney Connecticut - 2), (860) 577-8283
Christopher Murphy (Connecticut - 5), (860) 223-5522
Gus Bilirakis (Florida - 9), (727) 943-7284
Kathy Castor (Florida - 11), (813) 254-5615
Vern Buchanan (Florida - 13), (941) 953-6060
Timothy Mahoney (Florida - 16), (516) 214-8050
Ron Klein (Florida - 22), (561) 995-9626
Hank Johnson (Georgia - 4), (770) 323-4265
Mazie Hirono (Hawaii - 2), (808) 230-2006
William Sali (Idaho - 1), (208) 947-5195
Peter Roskam (Illinois - 6), (630) 221-0006
Phil Hare (Illinois - 17), (309) 788-4273
Joe Donnelly (Indiana - 2), (574) 233-1601
Brad Ellsworth (Indiana - 8), (812) 434-6766
Baron Hill (Indiana - 9), (812) 522-8764
Bruce Braley (Iowa - 1), (319) 233-0861
Dave Loebsack (Iowa - 2), (319) 351-3283
Nancy Boyda (Kansas - 2), (785) 234-2251
John Yarmuth (Kentucky - 3), (502) 891-8914
Benjamin Cardin (Maryland - Senate), (410) 366-1900
John Sarbanes (Maryland - 3), (410) 235-1662
Tim Walberg (Michigan - 7), (517) 787-8677
Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota - Senate), (651) 714-2006
Tim Walz (Minnesota - 1), (507) 388-5382
Keith Ellison (Minnesota - 5), (612)522-4416
Michele Bachmann (Minnesota - 6), (651) 735-7512
Claire McCaskill (Missouri - Senate), (314) 918-8683
Jon Tester (Montana - Senate), (406) 449-0117
Adrian Smith (Nebraska - 3), (888) 237-4267
Dean Heller (Nevada - 2), (775) 324-1618
Carol Shea-Porter (New Hampshire - 1), (603) 531-9653
Paul Hodes (New Hampshire - 2), (603) 223-2006
Albio Sires (New Jersey - 13), (201) 662-1885
Yvette Clarke (New York - 11), (718) 940-2006
John Hall (New York - 19), (845) 831-1735
Kirsten Gillibrand (New York - 20), (518) 697-3720
Michael Arcuri (New York - 24), (315) 223-9280
Heath Shuler (North Carolina - 11), (828) 258-7352
Sherrod Brown (Ohio - Senate), (440) 282-3314
Jim Jordan (Ohio - 4), (937) 509-0372
Charlie Wilson (Ohio - 6), (740) 635-2006
Betty Sutton (Ohio - 13), (330) 835-4262
Zack Space (Ohio - 18), (330) 343-2430
Mary Fallin (Oklahoma - 5), (405) 608-1192
Robert Casey (Pennsylvania - Senate), (215) 567-4190
Jason Altmire (Pennsylvania - 4), (724) 274-1776
Joe Sestak (Pennsylvania - 7), (610) 891-8956
Patrick Murphy (Pennsylvania - 8), (215) 547-5211
Christopher Carney (Pennsylvania - 10), (570) 587-4723
Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island - Senate), (401) 490-8683
Bob Corker (Tennessee - Senate), (615) 250-8160
David Davis (Tennessee - 1), (423) 773-8861
Stephen Cohen (Tennessee - 9), (901) 272-0277
Nicholas Lampson (Texas - 22), (281) 488-4922
Bernard Sanders (Vermont - Senate), (862) 862-1505
Peter Welch (Vermont - At large), (802) 658-0600
James Webb ( Virginia - Senate), (703) 778-4080
Steve Kagen (Wisconsin - 8), (920) 257-2592
2006 Your Candidates—Your Health Voter Guide Web Site Launches
Reseach!America is pleased to announce that Congressional candidates’ responses to the 2006 Your Candidates–Your Health Voter Guide questionnaire are now available online.
Your Candidates–Your Health is the first national voter education initiative focused exclusively on Congressional candidates’ positions on investment in medical, health and scientific research and other research-related policy issues As advocates for research, we encourage you to visit www.yourcandidatesyourhealth.org and use the convenient search tools to see where your candidates stand.
Click for Details
www.yourcandidatesyourhealth.org
Funding Note, November, 2006
On Nov. 15, both the House and Senate passed by voice vote H.J.Res. 100, a continuing resolution (CR) to provide funding through Dec. 8 for government agencies whose FY 2007 spending bills have not yet been enacted. To date, only two of the 12 regular spending bills - Defense and Homeland Security - have been signed into law. For NIH and the other programs in the Labor-HHS-Education bill (H.R. 5647/S. 3708), the CR provides funds at the FY 2006 level. This is the second CR for the fiscal year; the current CR expires Nov. 17.
Senate Votes to Protect Medicaid!
National Health Council Applauds Senate Vote to Protect Medicaid
The National Health Council strongly supports the passage of the Smith-Bingaman amendment to protect Medicaid, in the Senate earlier today. The amendment strikes all proposed cuts to the program from the Senate’s Budget Resolution and calls for the creation of a bipartisan commission to study Medicaid reform. The amendment passed by a vote of 52 to 48, with strong support from both Republicans and Democrats.
“Today’s vote is a huge victory for people with chronic diseases and/or disabilities, who depend heavily on Medicaid to meet their most important health care needs,” said Myrl Weinberg, President of the National Health Council. “The Council applauds the courage and leadership of Senators Smith and Bingaman in introducing this important amendment and thanks all Senators who voted for the amendment’s passage.”
“The National Health Council supports an evidence-based study of the myriad issues surrounding Medicaid to help develop an action plan for reform that meets the two most important goals in this debate: continuing to serve the people that depend on the program for their health care coverage and reducing increasing costs within Medicaid,” Weinberg continued. Weinberg also stressed that the study must be completed before Congress decides on federal cuts to the program and must include participation from patient organizations. The Council looks forward to working with Senators Smith and Bingaman as they move forward on this important issue.
The National Health Council is a private, nonprofit umbrella organization of 110 national health-related organizations working to bring quality health care to people with chronic diseases and/or disabilities. Its core membership includes 51 of the nation’s leading patient groups, including the American Kidney Fund, American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, Easter Seals, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Alpha-1 Foundation. Collectively these patient groups represent approximately 100 million people with chronic conditions. Other Council membership categories include professional and membership associations like the American Academy of Family Physicians, nonprofit organizations with an interest in health such as AARP, and business and industry, including Eli Lilly and Company and Pfizer Inc.
Insider Tips for Contacting Your Legislators
Gordon P. MacDougall, founder and president, Beacon Consulting Group, presented insider tips on how to best to conct legislators and their staff at Research! America's Prevention Research Initiative's Prevention Research Center National Community Committee Advocacy Training on July 28. His tips included:
* Some days are better than others for contacting senators and representatives. Members of Congress usually are in Washington Tuesday through Thursday. On these days, they are often away from their offices to vote on bills. Constituents are more likely to reach legislative staff on Mondays and Fridays, which are set aside for administrative tasks.
* Consider writing an email to your congressperson rather than a letter. The civic tradition of handwriting a letter to your conressperson forever changed following the 2001 anthrax attacks. Because constituents' letters have become the casualties of bioterrorism precautions, mail to Congress is now first sent for irradiation, which takes approximately a week.
* If you invite them, they will come. Be persistent in extending your invitation and encourage local government officials to make the request.
* Do not circumvent the staff. Legislative aides act on behalf of Congress members, and it is their job to relay constituent messages. Commend staff in your e-mail for all their help. It will serve as an incentive for the aide to show your email to the congressperson.
MacDougall previously served as an associate staff member to the House Committee on Appropriations and a former administrative assistant to The Honorable John Edward Porter, Research! America chair-elect.
Holden (MO) Signs Bill to Assist Children Affected by Alopecia Areata
Starting January 1, 2004, House Bill 455 of Missouri, will be effective. After years of hard work and commitment of Tyler Morice of Wentzville, MO and Olivia Penn of O'Fallon, MO and their families, the Bill finally has become law. Originally sponsored by Rep. Betty Thompson expands the coverage of Medicaid, MC+ for kids, and the state health plans to provide wigs to children under the age of 18 that suffer from alopecia areata. Contact NAAF for more information of the details of HB455, and what it can mean for you.
For more information contact Lisa Gallagher by e-mail at lisa@naaf.org
|
