--------- Forwarded message  from Parkinson's Action Network----------
From: "Laura Eckart" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 10:42:10 -0400
Subject: Legislative Alert!! NIH Appropriations!!

WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW!!

By Mid-September, lawmakers will have drafted appropriations bills for
fiscal year 2002, including the Labor, Health and Human Services Bill
that contains funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
 As you know, it is critical for advocates - in particular constituents -
to call and write to Members of Congress who serve on the Appropriation
Committee(s) that fund Parkinson's research - to urge them to support
Parkinson's research funding for fiscal year 2002.

Attached are sample letters for you to use when writing to your Member of
Congress and talking points for you to use when you phone your Member of
Congress. The phone number for Congress is 202-225-3121.

Also attached is the membership roster of the four appropriations
committee that have jurisdiction over the NIH.  They are House Labor,
Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee; House Full
Appropriations Committee; Senate Labor, Health and Human Services
Appropriations Subcommittee and Senate Full Appropriations Committee.

Please send this message on to anyone you know who can help or direct
them to our website at http://www.parkinsonsaction.org and click on
LEGISLATIVE ALERT.

You will be receiving similar message on Department of Defense
Appropriations, which also contains Parkinson's research funding.

Thanks for all of your hard work! Together, we will find a cure as soon
as humanly possible.

Laura Eckart

NOTE: PAN's phone # is 800-850-4726.  The sample letters and talking
points below are also available on PAN's web site:
www.parkinsonsaction.org

9/5/01
PAN's Sample Letter to Congress on NIH Appropriations
Date
The Honorable [First Name] [Last Name]
U.S. Senate/US. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20510/20515
Dear Senator/Representative [Last Name]:
I/We seek your support for the urgent need for increased federal research
funding for Parkinson's Disease. Specifically, I/ We respectfully request
the following:

Fully fund the Parkinson's research agenda in FY 2002 by continuation of
the doubling of the NIH's budget by 16.5%, 3.4 billion in this year's
Labor-HHS Appropriations bill.

Continue with the NIH's Five Year Research Agenda by fully funding the
$143.5 million needed for Parkinson's research.
Take the lead in working with the NIH to ensure that they aggressively
implement the Parkinson's Disease Research Agenda.Our nation's scientists
are making great progress in Parkinson's research - identifying
environmental factors, understanding the mechanisms of degeneration, and
learning to repair the brain through cell transplantation and other
surgical techniques. The promise of more effective treatments and even a
cure has created tremendous optimism among fellow members of the
Parkinson's community.

I [my husband/wife/parent etc.] suffer from Parkinson's, a progressive
neurological disorder that destroys brain cells controlling motor
function. Available treatment only partially alleviates the resulting
stiffness, tremor and slowness of movement. Eventually Parkinson's leaves
its victims unable to walk, to talk or even move. [Personal details about
how you have been directly affected will make the letter more compelling
and should be included here.]

As you may know, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has developed a
comprehensive Agenda to aggressively pursue a cure for Parkinson's. Last
year, Congress took the first step in investing in this Agenda. The NIH's
Five-Year Research Agenda calls for an increase of $143.5 million over
and above current funds being dedicated to Parkinson's research for FY
2002.It is estimated that Parkinson's costs the U.S. $25 billion a year
in direct 9/5/01health related expenses, disability costs and lost
productivity. With adequate funding, the NIH believes that a cure for
Parkinson's can be expected in five to ten years. A cure would profoundly
impact the lives of the million Americans suffering from Parkinson's -
but the federal government must commit the necessary resources to turn
the scientific promise into reality. The one million Americans who suffer
from this disease deserve no less.
Thank you for your attention. I/ We look forward to a response.
Sincerely,
[Your Name, Address, and Phone Number]

------------------------------------------------
Dated: September 6, 2001
TALKING POINTS

NIH APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2002

Background:  In mid September, lawmakers will begin drafting
appropriations bills for fiscal year 2002, including the bill that funds
the National Institutes Health (NIH).  It is crucial for advocates - - in
particular constituents - - to call members of Congress who serve on the
subcommittee that decides on the funding for NIH to urge them to
aggressively fund Parkinson's Research. We are looking to fund Year-Two
of NIH's Five-Year Parkinson's Research Agenda.  The Agenda calls for a
$143.5 increase for Fiscal Year 2002 (Year Two).

Talking Points:

[Note: When making calls, always start by identify yourself as a
constituent of the Congressperson's district or Senator's home state.]

[Explain your personal connection to Parkinson's disease and how the
disease has affected you and your family.]

We are calling today to ask [Congressman/woman or Senator (name)] to
support NIH's Five-Year Research Agenda for Parkinson's.  NIH developed
this Research Agenda by working with our nation's leading scientists.  We
ask that it be fully funded with a $143.5 for Parkinson's research for
fiscal year 2002.

Our Nation's Scientists are making great progress in Parkinson's
Research. The promise of more effective treatments and a cure has created
tremendous optimism among the Parkinson's community.

With adequate funding, the NIH believes a cure for Parkinson's can be
expected in five years.  This truly is a matter of life of death for the
one million Americans who suffer from Parkinson's.

Also, investing in a cure for this disease also makes good financial
sense. Parkinson's is estimated to cost the United States $25 billion a
year.

To make our goal of finding a cure a reality, we ask [Congressman/woman
or Senator (last name)] to support the doubling of the NIH's budget and
the Parkinson's Research Agenda.

Finally, we ask [Congressman/woman or Senator (name)] to provide
leadership in working with the NIH, in order to ensure that the NIH is
aggressively implementing the Parkinson's Research Agenda.

Can we count on your support?  How does [Congressman/woman or Senator
(name)] intend to vote on this issue?

Thank you for your time and consideration.  I would like to leave my
name, address and phone number so that I can hear back on this critical
issue.

-------------------------------------------------------
KEY SENATORS:

The Senate Appropriations Full Committee is responsible for all
appropriations made in the United States Senate, including Department of
Defense (DoD) - which includes the Army's NETRP program- and the National
Institutes of Health (NIH). PAN is seeking $50 million for the DoD's
NETRP program and $143.5 million for year two of the NIH's Parkinson's
Five Year Research Agenda for fiscal year 2002.

NAME                    PARTY   STATE
Bennett  Robert         R       UT
Bond Christopher        R       MO
Burns Conrad            R       MT
Byrd Robert             D       WV
Campbell  Ben           R       CO
Cochran  Thad           R       MS
Craig   Larry           R       ID
DeWine  Mike            R       OH
Domenici Pete           R       NM
Dorgan  Byron           D       ND
Durbin  Richard         D       IL
Feinstein Dianne                D       CA
Gregg   Judd            R       NH
Harkin  Tom             D       IA
Hollings        Ernest          D       SC
Hutchison Kay Bailey    R       TX
Inouye  Daniel          D       HI
Johnson  Tim            D       SD
Kohl    Herbert         D       WI
Landrieu Mary           D       LA
Leahy   Patrick         D       VT
McConnell Mitch         R       KY
Mikulski         Barbara        D       MD
Murray  Patty           D       WA
Reid    Harry           D       NV
Shelby  Richard         R       AL
Specter Arlen           R       PA
Stevens Ted             R       AK
Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-WV is Chairman and Senator Ted Stevens, R-AL,
is the Ranking Member of the Committee.

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services and Education is responsible for appropriations for the National
Institutes of Health (NIH).  PAN is seeking $143.5 million for year two
of the NIH's five year Parkinson's Research Agenda.

NAME               PARTY        STATE
Cochran  Thad   R       MS
Craig   Larry   R       ID
DeWine  Mike    R       OH
Gregg   Judd    R       NH
Harkin  Tom     D       IA
Hollings        Ernest  D       SC
Hutchison Kay Bailey    R       TX
Inouye  Daniel  D       HI
Kohl Herbert    D       WI
Landrieu Mary   D       LA
Murray  Patty   D       WA
Reid    Harry   D       NV
Specter Arlen   R       PA
Stevens Ted     R       AK
Senator Tom Harkin, D-IA, is Chairman and Senator Arlen Specter, R-PA, is
Ranking Member of the Committee.

KEY REPRESENTATIVES:

The House Appropriations Full Committee is responsible for all
appropriations made in the House of Representatives, including Department
of Defense (DoD) - which includes the Army's NETRP program- and the
National Institutes of Health (NIH). PAN is seeking $50 million for the
DoD's NETRP program and $143.5 million for year two of the NIH's
Parkinson's Five Year Research Agenda for fiscal year 2002.

NAME            PARTY   STATE   DISTRICT
Aderholt Robert  R      AL      4
Bonilla Henry   R       TX      23
Boyd    Allen   D       FL      2
CallahanSonny   R       AL      1
Clyburn James   D       SC      6
Cramer  Robert  D       AL      5
Cunningham Randy        R       CA      51
DeLauro Rosa    D       CT      3
DeLay   Tom     R       TX      22
Dicks Norman    D       WA      6
Doolittle John  R       CA      4
Edwards Chet    D       TX      11
Emerson JoAnn R MO      8
Farr    Sam     D       CA      17
Fattah  Chaka   D       PA      2
Frelinghuysen Rodney    R       NJ      11
Goode   Virgil  I       VA      5
Granger Kay     R       TX      12
Hinchey Maurice D       NY      26
Hobson  David   R       OH      7
Hoyer   Steny   D       MD      5
Istook  Ernest  R       OK      5
Jackson Jesse   D       IL      2
Kaptur  Marcy   D       OH      9
Kennedy Patrick  D      RI      1
Kilpatrick Carolyn D    MI      15
Kingston Jack   R       GA      1
Knollenberg Joseph R    MI      11
Kolbe   Jim     R       AZ      5
LaHood  Ray     R       IL      18
Latham  Tom     R       IA      5
Lewis   Jerry   R       CA      40
Lowey   Nita    D       NY      18
Meek    Carrie  D       FL      17
Miller  Dan     R       FL      13
Mollohan Alan   D       WV      1
Moran   James   D       VA      8
Murtha  John    D       PA      12
Nethercutt George R     WA      5
Northup Anne    R       KY      3
Obey    David   D       WI      7
Olver   John    D       MA      1
Pastor  Ed      D       AZ      2
Pelosi  Nancy   D       CA      8
Peterson John   R       PA      5
Price   David   D       NC      4
Regula  Ralph   R       OH      16
Rogers  Harold  R       KY      5
Rothman Steven D        NJ      9
Roybal-Allard Lucille   D       CA      33
Sabo  Martin    D       MN      5
Serrano  Jose   D       NY      16
Sherwood Don    R       PA      10
Skeen   Joe     R       NM      2
Sununu  John    R       NH      1
Sweeney John    R       NY      22
Taylor  Charles R       NC      11
Tiahrt  Todd    R       KS      4
Visclosky Peter D       IN      1
Vitter  David   R       LA      1
Wamp    Zach    R       TN      3
Wicker  Roger   R       MS      1
Wolf    Frank   R       VA      10
Young   C.W.    R       FL      10
Representative C.W. (Bill) Young, R-FL is Chairman and Representative
David Obey, D-WI, the Ranking Member of the Committee.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education is responsible for appropriations for the
National Institutes of Health (NIH).  PAN is seeking $143.5 million for
year two of the NIH's five year Parkinson's Research Agenda.

 NAME           PARTY   STATE   DISTRICT
Bonilla Henry   R       TX      23
Cunningham Randy        R       CA      51
Istook  Ernest  R       OK      5
Young   C.W.    R       FL      10
DeLauro Rosa    D       CT      3
Hoyer   Steny   D       MD      5
Jackson Jesse   D       IL      2
Lowey   Nita    D       NY      18
Miller  Dan     R       FL      13
Northup Anne    R       KY      3
Obey    David   D       WI      7
Pelosi  Nancy   D       CA      8
Regula  Ralph   R       OH      16
Wicker  Roger   R       MS      1

Representative Ralph Regula, R-OH, is Chairman and Representative David
Obey, D-WI, is the Ranking Member on the Committee.

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