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In response to several posts expressing confusion over my recent Appropriations Update, I would like to clarify why I suggested that people refrain from contacting Senator Specter. As you know, Senator Specter serves as the Chairman of the Senate Labor HHS Appropriations Subcommittee that wrote the bill (S. 2440). As Chairman, he is one of the best champions for increased federal investment in biomedical research that there is in the Congress. He has also been a 'friend' of Parkinson's in the past and hopefully in the future. Therefore, for the purposes of a letterwriting/phone/fax campaign to the entire Senate advocating passage of S. 2440 (which was the purpose of the post) calling his offices 'en masse' to urge him to vote for a bill that he wrote would be largely futile. Having said that, it was not my intention to discourage anyone who happens to be a constituent of his from contacting his offices to thank him for his leadership in recommending the largest increase in NIH funding in history. In fact, I think those thanks are well deserved. If any of you have additional questions, please feel free to call NPF's Washington office at 1-888-331-4NPF, or email me directly and I would be happy to try to answer them for you. Thanks in advance for contacting your Senators on this issue. My original post follows. Bill Turenne, Jr. NPF/ Washington [log in to unmask] _________________________________ FY '99 APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE As you all know by now, the full Senate Appropriations Committee, last week, approved their version of the Labor HHS Appropriations measure for FY 99. (You might recall my recent post quoting the report language that accompanies the bill.) The bill # is S. 2440. Now that the House and the Senate Appropriations Committees have approved their respective versions, (H.R. 4274 and S. 2440) each must be considered (i.e. subject to amendments and voted on) by their respective legislative bodies, before the conference deliberations can begin. As to when that might occur, there are some rumors and educated guesses, but the truth is no one really knows. Legislative schedules are hard enough to try to nail down during the end of a legislative session under 'normal' circumstances, but with the 400-pound elephant in the room that is Judge Starr's referral, there is even less certainty as to when they will come up for a vote in either house. In the meantime, we still need to let our Senators know how important S. 2440 and the report language that accompanies it are to the Parkinson community. That is why it is crucial for all of you to contact your Senators and urge their support of this bill (S. 2440). 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 (S. 2440), · AND OPPOSE ANY FLOOR AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD REDUCE HEALTH FUNDING. PLEASE DO NOT contact Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), 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. It does not matter what party your Senators are a member of; every one of them needs to be contacted! As a matter of fact, the more bipartisan support there is for the Senate bill, the better our chances of having it prevail in Conference over the more controversial House version (H.R.4274). There is an accompanying sample letter that you are free to use, if you like. However, it is usually better to write your own, or to have your caregiver write one for you to sign. Phone calls to your Senator's state and/or Capitol Hill offices are also encouraged. AGAIN… PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SENATORS TODAY AND URGE THEM TO: *****VOTE IN FAVOR OF S. 2440 (Senate Labor HHS Appropriations bill for FY1999), *****and***** *****OPPOSE ANY AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD REDUCE THE FUNDING INCREASE FOR NIH. The importance of the passage of this bill to our chances of getting a substantial increase in funding for Parkinson's disease research cannot be overstated. Thank you all in advance for your prompt attention to this important matter. Please feel free to contact me at NPF's Washington office with any questions you may have. Bill Turenne, Jr. NPF/ Washington toll-free: (888) 331-4NPF [log in to unmask] SAMPLE LETTER FOLLOWS Date: ____/____/____ The Honorable __________ ____________ United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator ______________: I understand that you and your colleagues in the Senate may soon be voting on S. 2440, the Labor/HHS Appropriations bill for FY '99. Contained in that bill is a proposal for an unprecedented $2 billion increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health. I feel that this increased investment by the government in the wellbeing of its citizens is crucial to the future physical and fiscal health of our country. Not only will these much needed research dollars help to increase our understanding of the causes of such devastating age-related diseases as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. It will also increase our chances of finding a universally effective treatment and/or cure for them before the demographic tidal wave of aging baby boomers strikes early in the next millenium. If we fail to act now, treatment costs alone could bankrupt our health care system. Please, when this spending measure comes to the Senate Floor for a vote, · SUPPORT HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS BY VOTING YES ON THE L-HHS APPROPRIATIONS BILL (S. 2440), AND · OPPOSE ANY FLOOR AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD REDUCE HEALTH FUNDING. An investment in America's health is an investment in America's future. Thank you for your consideration and support. Respectfully, __________________________ __________________________ __________________________