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ACT NOW: Contact Your Senators and Representative to Increase NIH Funding
On Monday, February 5, President George W. Bush released his FY 2008 budget proposal which included $28.6 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). By means of comparison, the final FY 2007 funding bill that the House passed last week (and which the Senate is expected to approve in the near future) contained $28.9 billion in funding for NIH. Though the President's budget request is simply a starting point for the annual budget process, the fact that the starting point for this year's process represents a cut in funding for NIH is significant. If enacted, these proposed levels would represent a $310 million (or 0.8%) decrease in funding from FY 2007 to FY 2008. Combined with projected Biomedical Research and Development Price Index (BRDPI) increases of 3.7%, the effects of the Administration's proposed funding for FY 2008 would be devastating to NIH and hematologic research. Now is the time to contact your Senators and Representative to generate their interest in supporting FY 2008 NIH funding. With a very tight year expected for the entire federal budget, grassroots support for NIH funding is critical to gain any traction in the congressional budget process. Your Senators and Representative need to hear from you about ensuring adequate funding NIH in FY 2008. Congress begins hearings on the budget request this week, and the annual federal appropriations process will commence shortly. ASH will circulate a detailed analysis of the President's proposed FY 2008 budget and will continue to provide members regular updates throughout the FY 2008 budget process. In the meantime, you may find the NIH summary of interest. If you have questions, please contact ASH Research Advocacy Manager Tracy Becker at (202) 776-0544 or tbecker@hematology.org.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , As a hematologist interested in research on blood disorders, I write to urge your support of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance groundbreaking basic, clinical, and translational research. I am seriously concerned that President Bush's federal budget recommends inadequate funding for NIH and its research programs that are critical to furthering science and America's health. The proposed FY 2008 budget for NIH represents a decrease in the funding levels contained in the FY 2007 Continuing Resolution (H.J.Res. 20). Such shortfalls may force NIH to choose between ongoing basic research efforts or new clinical research activities, resulting in an overall slowdown in medical discoveries. For hematology, if there is only a minimal amount of growth in FY 2008 NIH funding, research resources into cures and treatments for blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma; bleeding disorders such as hemophilia; clotting problems such as thrombosis; and, genetic disorders such as sickle cell disease, and Cooley's anemia, among others, would effectively remain frozen, or even decline. Unless NIH is adequately funded, it will be extremely difficult for hematologists and other health professionals to train promising researchers, create research advances, and improve the public's health. Please support the highest possible funding level for NIH in FY 2008. Thank you for your interest in this issue and I appreciate your support. Please contact me if I can provide additional information to you.
Sincerely, |
Campaign Launched: |
| Background Information |
The release of the President's FY 2008 Budget Proposal initiates the annual appropriations process for the year. Overall, this year's federal budget is expected to be trimmed down, with the President committed to reducing the federal budget deficit. Most of the FY 2008 budget increase in his proposal will be dedicated to the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. Other agencies, such as NIH, are likely to face a difficult time in securing additional funding.
This year's NIH budget situation is exacerbated by the after-effects of the five-year effort that doubled the NIH budget between FY 1998 and FY 2003. When the doubling project was completed in FY 2003, policymakers anticipated that the Bush Administration would curb its commitment to significant biomedical research funding increases. Moreover, many other officials in Washington, DC, feel that NIH received more than its share of a limited amount of discretionary dollars between FY 1998 and FY 2003, and other programs are due to receive increases in lieu of more funding for NIH.
However, the reach of NIH funding provides biomedical research advocates like ASH with a unique opportunity. With NIH grant recipients located in most states and many congressional districts, the chance to build nationwide grassroots support for increased NIH funding is achievable. The first step for ASH is to have its membership explain to their Members of Congress how vital NIH funding is to the medical research enterprise as well as how valuable NIH-sponsored research is to the health and well being of their constituents.
For more specifics about the President's budget recommendations please see the proposed FY 2008 budget and the NIH FY 2008 budget summary.
