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Contact Your Senators and Member of Congress and Urge Them to Support Increased Funding for NIH
Congressional Appropriations Committees will soon begin the process of drafting the bills that will fund federal departments, agencies, and programs for fiscal year (FY) 2008. ASH and the biomedical research community continue to advocate for an increase of 6.7 percent for FY 2008 over the final FY 2007 levels, despite a proposed budget form the White House for FY 2008 that includes proposed cuts totaling $310 million for NIH. With a very tight year expected for the entire federal budget, broad congressional support for NIH funding is critical to gain any traction in the budget process. It is critical that your Senators and Member of Congress hear from you on this important issue. Please e-mail the following letter asking them to supporta 6.7 percent increase for NIH in FY 2008. If you have any questions, or need additional information, please contact ASH Research Advocacy Manager Tracy Becker at tbecker@hematology.org or (202) 776-0544.
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 and ask for your support in seeking increased funding for NIH in FY 2008. I am seriously concerned that President Bush's federal budget proposal 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 Joint Funding Resolution (H.J.Res. 20). Such shortfalls may force NIH to choose between ongoing basic research efforts and 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. 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, |
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| 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.
ASH and the biomedical research community have joined forces to advocate an increase of 6.7 percent for NIH in FY 2008. This requested level represents the expected 3.7 percent rate of biomedical inflation for 2008 plus a percent "catch-up" to make up for the NIH budget not keeping pace with biomedical inflation since the completion of the doubling of the NIH budget in 2003. Though recent funding trends have not kept keep pace with biomedical inflation, this recommended funding level represents an important step in maintaining NIH's commitment to medical research funding so that the progress made during the doubling years is not eroded.
For more specifics about the President's budget recommendations please see the proposed FY 2008 budget and the NIH FY 2008 budget summary.
