APA Public Interest Policy Office: March 14, 2006

The U.S. Senate began consideration of its version of the federal budget for Fiscal Year 2007 this week, and the news is NOT GOOD for scientific research, education and human services programs. While the Senate base budget is somewhat more generous than the President’s proposed budget that was released in February, it would still require cuts to many agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources and Services Administration which funds many health professions training programs.

U.S. Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) are offering an amendment likely tomorrow or Thursday (March 15 or 16) to add $7 billion to the base Senate budget, for a total of $10 billion over the President’s proposed budget. The amendment will restore funding for the National Institutes of Health and public health programs that have been seriously eroded by years of flat funding, outright reductions, and four years of across-the-board cuts. Last year alone, public health programs lost over $1 billion in funding.

Investing in public health can slow the growth in mandatory spending by preventing, or treating early, chronic diseases and disabilities, infectious diseases and injury. The Specter-Harkin amendment will protect and support the nation’s investment in biomedical, behavioral and health services research, disease prevention and health promotion, targeted services to medically underserved populations, and education of a diverse health care workforce.

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Please enter your zip in the box for a phonescript and the contact information for your members. Support the Specter-Harkin amendment and keep America healthy and strong.

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