AARDA supports this amendment and urges you to contact your Senators before September 2, asking them to support this amendment We also ask that you contact your Representatives and ask them to support a "Dear Colleague Letter".

Senate Action Requested

      As Congress returns to session on Tuesday, September 2, the Senate will begin action on the FY04 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (LHHS) appropriations bill. Senators Arlen Specter (PA), Tom Harkin (IA) and Diane Feinstein (CA) will introduce an amendment to the bill that would substantially increase funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) resulting in a 9.2% increase from FY03. Because this amendment would exceed a spending cap imposed in the FY04 budget resolution, it will require 60 votes to pass. AARDA supports this amendment and urges you to contact your Senators before September 2, asking them to support this amendment.

House Action Requested

      Representatives Lois Capps (CA), Chris Bell (TX), Mark Foley (FL) and Jim Leach (IA) have authored a “Dear Colleague” letter from the House to the LHHS conferees, urging that the NIH receive an 8-10% increase in the final bill determined by the House and Senate conference committee. In March, the House voted for a mere 2.5% increase for NIH in FY04. The goal is to have a minimum of 218 signatures on the letter when it is sent to conferees in September. Please contact your Representative, asking him/her to sign this letter.

Key messages

      Thank you for working with your colleagues in Congress and the administration over the past few years to provide the initial deployment of resources necessary to wage war on disease and disability in our nation.

[FOR SENATORS] Please support the Specter/Harkin/Feinstein amendment that would increase funding for the National Institutes of Health by 9.2% (for a total of $2.5 billion) from FY03.

[FOR REPRESENTATIVES] Please sign the “Dear Colleague” letter drafted by Representatives Lois Capps, Chris Bell, Mark Foley and Jim Leach to House and Senate conference committee members, urging support for an 8-10% NIH increase in the final LHHS appropriations bill. On July 10, the House voted for a mere 2.5% increase for NIH in FY04. This increase is not enough to maintain a strong investment in the future health of America.