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---------------------------------- Urgent!!! Immediate Action Needed!!! The House version of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for FY 1999 (H.R. 4274) is tentatively scheduled to come to the House floor for a vote by the end of next week. It had been originally scheduled for consideration early this week, but in light of last Friday's tragedy at the Capitol Building, all previous legislative schedules have been postponed in order to allow for a proper tribute to Officer Jacob J. Chestnut and Special Agent John M. Gibson, who were slain in the line of duty. Godspeed, Gentlemen. The bill funds the National Institutes of Health and other public health programs. The proposed funding for NIH for FY 1999 is $14.862 billion, a sustantial 9.1-percent increase. Of course, in order to allow for such a dramatic increase in research funding, reductions in the rate of increase (not cuts) of other programs had to be made. Some of these reductions are quite controversial and could threaten to derail the entire spending measure. That is why it is crucial for all of you to call, email and/or fax your Representatives this week and urge their support of this bill (H.R. 4274). As usual, encourage your friends and relatives to do the same. THE MESSAGE IS THIS: * SUPPORT HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS BY VOTING YES ON THE L-HHS APPROPRIATIONS BILL (H.R. 4274), AND OPPOSE ANY FLOOR AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD REDUCE HEALTH FUNDING. The bill will undoubtedly undergo changes to address the individual priorities and concerns of members of Congress during House/Senate conference. Our best chance to receive funding for the Udall Act will be during this time, but it can't go to conference without passing the House first, which at this point is by no means assured. PLEASE DO NOT contact Rep. John Porter (R-10-IL), as he is the Chairman of the subcommittee that wrote this bill and he is one of the strongest advocates for increased federal investment in biomedical research in the Congress. If one of the following members of Congress represents your district, it is particularly important to contact them to support H.R. 4274: Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT) Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH) Rep. John McHugh (R-NY) Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) Rep. Jack Quinn (R-NY) -- needs extra attention Rep. Michael Castle (R-DE) Rep. Philip English (R-PA) Rep. Michael Forbes (R-NY) Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) Rep. Connie Morella (R-MD) Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH) Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-NY) Rep. Amo Houghton (R-NY) Rep. Jim Walsh (R-NY) Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL) Rep. Bob Franks (R-NJ) Rep.Chris Shays (R-CT) Rep. Greg Ganske (R-IA) Rep. Sue Kelly (R-NY) Rep. Ray LaHood (R-IL) Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) Rep. Marge Roukema (R-NJ) Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) There is no accompanying Senate bill as of yet, and one is not expected to be marked up now until after the August recess. As soon as that happens, you will all be notified. Thank you all for your prompt attention to this important matter. As always, feel free to reply to me with any questions you may have. Bill Turenne, Jr. NPF/ Washington toll-free: (888) 331-4NPF [log in to unmask]