--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Laura Jane Cohen" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 12:55:55 -0500
>
> FY 2003 Appropriations:
>
>       Congress Passes Continuing Resolution:  On Wednesday, October 15th
> both the House and the Senate passed a continuing resolution (H.J.
> Res 123) that will keep the government operating through November 22nd.
> The resolution was passed by a vote of 228-172 by the House and by
> voice vote in the Senate.  The Senate adjourned until Tuesday,
> November 12th and will conduct pro-forma sessions only.
>
>       Department of Defense Appropriations:  On Thursday, October 10th,
> the Department of Defense Appropriations      conferees released their
> appropriations for fiscal year 2003. This year $21.25 million was
provided
> for the United States         Army's Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment
> Research Program (NETRP), a 20%, or $4 million, increase over last
year's
> appropriation. The Senate passed the conference report by a   vote of
> 93-1 and the House also voted overwhelmingly  to pass it.  The
President
> signed this bill into law on October 23rd.  This is a big victory for
the
> Parkinson's community. Your calls and faxes to your Members of
> Congress really helped pull us through in a year when many similar
> programs were cut or level funded.
>
>       Stem Cell Research: The consensus on the Hill is that Congress will
> not address the SCNT or any other stem cell   policy issue during
> this session of Congress.  That said, stem cell research has been
playing
> a significant role in some of this years campaigns and will most likely
> be addressed in the next session of Congress.
>
>
>       The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding: As you know, NIH is
> funded through the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations
bill.
> The Senate Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee
> passed its appropriations bill, but it has yet to be voted on by the
full
> Senate.  The House Labor-HHS Appropriations   Subcommittee has yet to
> address their version of the bill.  There are speculations that this
bill
> will be addressed in a lame   duck session later this month, either on
its
> own or rolled up in a larger appropriations bill.  There is also talk
that
> Congress      may pass a continuing resolution through March.  PAN will
> continue to keep you posted of any progress on this bill.
>
        Action!

        Background: While your Members of Congress are home campaigning,
take advantage of the opportunity to speak with them about the
Labor-HHS appropriations bill.  If this bill is not passed, Congress will
have reneged on its promise to  double  the NIH budget in 5 years.

        Please ask your Members of Congress to keep their promise and finish
the doubling of the NIH budget this year.  The path towards a cure for
Parkinson's depends on NIH receiving adequate funding to conduct its
research.

        Remember to vote on November 5th!

> Introduction of New Outreach Coordinator:
>
>       Introduced Laura Jane Cohen as the new Outreach Coordinator and
> discussed her goals of appointing a state     coordinator for all states,
> but particularly those with members who sit on Defense or Labor-HHS
> appropriations.  Below,       please find a list of priority  target
> states.  Laura Jane also mentioned her availability to speak about
PAN's
> mission and   grassroots advocacy at local events, forums, support
groups,
> etc.  Please contact her if you are interested in having her speak or
> have information about possible state coordinators.
>
>
PRIORITY TARGET STATES

Alabama
Alaska
Connecticut
Florida (state and congressional coordinator,10th District)
Hawaii
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Mississippi
Missouri
Nevada
New Hampshire
North Dakota
Rhode Island (state and congressional coordinator, 1st District)
South Carolina
Washington (state and congressional coordinator, 5th District)
West Virginia
Wisconsin (congressional coordinator, 7th District)

> Laura Jane Cohen
> Outreach Coordinator
> Parkinson's Action Network
> 300 North Lee Street, Suite 500
> Alexandria, VA 22314
> p: 703-518-8877
>     800-850-4726
> f: 703-518-0673
> website: www.parkinsonsaction.org

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