Fwd: Support Senate Amendment to Increase NIH Funding

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In a message dated 09/02/2003 4:55:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time, nmss_list@... writes:

CALL YOUR SENATORS AND URGE THEIR SUPPORT OF SPECTER-HARKIN NIH FUNDING AMENDMENT

September 2, 2003

NEED FOR ACTION: As reported in our last alert, following the FY'99 -'03 NIH budget doubling effort, NIH is facing its lowest budget increase in years. The latest news is that Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) are introducing a bipartisan amendment to add an additional $1.5 billion to the FY'04 NIH budget. The Society supports the Specter-Harkin amendment which would bring total NIH funding close to the $30 billion MS advocates nationwide have been supporting.

The Senate is expected to vote on the Specter-Harkin amendment and potentially finish the NIH budget this week! MS Research needs this additional funding for NIH.

The Society is very concerned that the current House and Senate funding levels will impede the momentum of the doubling effort and threaten the stability of the medical research enterprise.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW:

Call your Senators immediately, and ask them to:

* Support the Specter-Harkin Amendment to the Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill to adequately fund NIH in FY'04.

* Tell your Senators why MS research is important to you/your family. So little is known about the cause of MS and appropriate treatments that it is imperative Congress maintain the momentum of support for NIH research.

INSTRUCTIONS:

* To call your Senators' D.C. offices, dial the US Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.

If you do not know who your Senators are, you may call the US Capitol switchboard at the number above or call your county or municipal clerk.

If you have further questions, please call the Washington Public Policy Office at 202-408-1500

CALL YOUR SENATORS AND URGE THEIR SUPPORT OF SPECTER-HARKIN NIH FUNDING

AMENDMENT

September 2, 2003

NEED FOR ACTION: As reported in our last alert, following the FY'99 -'03 NIH

budget doubling effort, NIH is facing its lowest budget increase in years. The

latest news is that Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)

are introducing a bipartisan amendment to add an additional $1.5 billion to the

FY'04 NIH budget. The Society supports the Specter-Harkin amendment which would

bring total NIH funding close to the $30 billion MS advocates nationwide have

been supporting.

The Senate is expected to vote on the Specter-Harkin amendment and potentially

finish the NIH budget this week! MS Research needs this additional funding for

NIH.

The Society is very concerned that the current House and Senate funding levels

will impede the momentum of the doubling effort and threaten the stability of

the medical research enterprise.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW:

Call your Senators immediately, and ask them to:

* Support the Specter-Harkin Amendment to the Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill to

adequately fund NIH in FY'04.

* Tell your Senators why MS research is important to you/your family. So little

is known about the cause of MS and appropriate treatments that it is imperative

Congress maintain the momentum of support for NIH research.

INSTRUCTIONS:

* To call your Senators' D.C. offices, dial the US Capitol switchboard at

202-224-3121.

If you do not know who your Senators are, you may call the US Capitol

switchboard at the number above or call your county or municipal clerk.

If you have further questions, please call the Washington Public Policy Office

at 202-408-1500