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More information will be distributed as soon as it is available. Please call the Parkinson's Action Network with you questions and comments: (800) 850-4726. From Mike Claeys, Parkinsons Action Network Following is a brief update on the status of fiscal year 1999 Appropriations for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and more specifically, Parkinson's research funding. The House and Senate are expected to vote on the fiscal year 1999 omnibus spending bill on Wednesday, October 21. The government is funded through midnight Wednesday, and the President is expected to that evening from California to sign the massive legislation. Included in the omnibus bill are the Labor-HHS Appropriations bill and its accompanying report. The Labor-HHS bill is expected to contain a robust $2 billion (14.7%) increase in the overall NIH budget. Sustained for five years, this rate of increase would double the NIH budget. Although Parkinson's-focused research is certain to increase in fiscal 1999, the exact amount cannot be determined at this point. Ensuring the highest level of Parkinson's-focused research will require continued scrutiny of and dialogue with the NIH, both by Congress and the Parkinson's community. The report accompanying the Labor-HHS bill is expected to contain several references to Parkinson's research funding, including additional language added in the last few weeks. Also anticipated to be added to the Congressional Record accompanying the passage of the omnibus bill is a verbal exchange (known as a "colloquy") among several Senators, including Udall Act champions John McCain (R-AZ) and Paul Wellstone (D-MN), who spoke in favor of increasing Parkinson's research funding in concordance with the Udall Act. The Network will publish the report language and the Senate colloquy in its entirety as soon as the omnibus bill is signed into law and made available to the public. This is expected to be later this week. Lastly, it is important to note the strong contribution made by a bipartisan group of Senators who have come forward in recent weeks to actively work to fulfill the mandate of the Udall Act. Led by Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee members Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Larry Craig (R-ID), thirteen Senators signed letters to Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Arlen Specter (R-PA) encouraging inclusion of stronger, more directive language in the final Labor-HHS Conference Report. This language is meant to compel NIH to follow the mandate of the Udall Act by devoting $100 million in research focused specifically on Parkinson's in fiscal 1999. While it remains to be seen precisely how much research funding goes to Parkinson's in 1999, the Parkinson's community will surely reap great benefits from the active support of knowledgeable and influential Senators like Cochran, Craig and the others. These new champions, combined with previous Udall Act supporters like Senators McCain and Wellstone and Congressmen Upton and Waxman, have joined the cause as a result of the tremendous grassroots efforts of Parkinson's advocates in their states and around the country. The entire Parkinson's community should be proud of this year's accomplishments both in terms of legislative successes, and potentially more important, the increase visibility and awareness of Parkinson's on Capitol Hill. More information will be distributed as soon as it is available. Please call the Parkinson's Action Network with you questions and comments: (800) 850-4726.