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--------- 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn