The release of the President's FY 2009 Budget Proposal will initiate the annual appropriations process for the year. Overall, this year's proposed federal budget cuts billions of dollars from federal health programs and eliminates scores of programs supported by the Democratic-controlled Congress in order to make the President's first-term tax cuts permanent and reduce the federal budget deficit. Most of the proposed increases in the President's proposal are 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.

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 ASH Web site. The President's proposed FY 2009 budget, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) summary, and a detailed summary of the proposed FY 2009 NIH budget, are also available online.