Parkinson's Action Network
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ACTION ALERT -- August 27, 1999
IT'S CRUNCH TIME FOR PARKINSON'S ADVOCACY!
Congress reconvenes on Tuesday, September 8th to finish work on the
budget for fiscal year 2000 (FY 2000). Major funding decisions
relating to Parkinson's disease research will be made in the coming
weeks. *A sustained advocacy push by the Parkinson's community could
reinforce all this year's efforts and ensure additional Parkinson's
research funding.*
YOUR MESSAGE TO CONGRESS:
* "Fulfill the promise of the Udall Act by adding $75 million in
Parkinson's-focused research to the NIH budget"
* "Include the $75 million increase in specific language in the FY
2000 Labor/HHS Appropriations bill."
* "Use the power of your office and work with your colleagues on the
Appropriations Committee to ensure this vital funding increase."
* "One million other suffering Americans cannot wait another year!"
HOW YOU CAN HELP DELIVER THE MESSAGE:
* Send a letter to both your Senators and your Representative, or use
one of the Network's sample letters (available at our headquarters:
800-850-4726).
Mail to:
Senator _____________ or United States Senate Washington, DC
20510
Representative________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
* Call and speak directly with the health care staff person in your
Senators' and Representatives' DC office:
Capitol Switchboard
202-224-3121
-or- Your legislator's local office. For phone
numbers, check your local directory.
* Schedule meetings with Senators, Representatives and their staff.
* Use your local media to raise awareness and inspire Congressional
action supporting Parkinson's.
* Organize your support groups, community groups, friends and family
to participate in letter and telephone campaigns. Every additional
person you get to deliver your message to Congress multiplies your
influence and effectiveness!
BACKGROUND AND UPDATE
Most federally funded Parkinson's research is administered through the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), part of the Department of Health
and Human Services. Each year the NIH budget and guidelines for medical
research spending are included in legislation to fund the Departments
of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and other related
agencies -- referred to as the Labor/HHS Appropriations bill."
Congress has not yet acted on the Labor/HHS Appropriations bill for FY
2000, but is expected to do so early in September. Consideration of
this bill provides an opportunity to include specific language
increasing the amount of Parkinson's research funded through the NIH.
The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 requires Congress to reduce overall
spending in FY2000, which means Parkinson's research is among a host of
interests competing for scarce federal dollars. To ensure additional
research funding, Congress must hear the voice of the Parkinson's
community above the clamor of other interests.
FALL TIME LINE
Sept. 7 -- Labor Day
Sept. 8 -- Congress Returns
Oct. 1 -- FY 2000 begins
Oct. 29 -- Congress adjourns (tentative)
Nov. 25 -- Thanksgiving
AUGUST ADVOCACY SPOTLIGHT
Thank you to all of you who worked so hard during August to contact
your Members of Congress in support of Parkinson's!
Your advocacy efforts included letters and phone calls to Members of
Congress, letters to newspaper editors and meetings with your
representatives.
Arizona Parkinson's advocates, fresh from the Public Policy Forum in
Washington, D.C., organized individuals from around the state for a
face-to-face meeting with Senator John Kyl, a member of the influential
Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee. At the meeting,
advocates shared their personal struggles with the disease and provided
Senator Kyl with updated facts and figures regarding Parkinson's
research. In addition, they presented him with a petition containing
over 1,600 Arizona signatures asking Congress to fulfill their
commitment to provide at least $100 million for Parkinson's-focused
research. Most importantly, the Arizonans will continue to push for
his support throughout the FY2000 appropriations process.
With action and determination we can make Parkinson's disease a
priority and secure the research funding it deserves.
Parkinson's Action Network
840 Third Street
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
tel: 800-850-4726
fax: 707-544-2363
email: [log in to unmask]
website: www.parkinsonsaction.org
David B. Rosenthal, Chair
Joan I. Samuelson, President
John L. Dodge, Treasurer
Michael Claeys, Policy Coordinator
Brian Griffiths, Administrator
Kathy Hayes, Community Coordinator
Phyllis Rosenfield, Communications Coordinator
Mette Adams, Staff Assistant
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