Action Alert: Protect Psychological Research at NIH

On Thursday, June 23rd, the House of Representatives is expected to begin debate on the FY 2006 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill (L-HHS), which funds the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Last year, an amendment offered by Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) passed the House by a voice vote. Neugebauer's amendment would have rescinded funds from two specific peer-reviewed grants that were funded by the NIH. While the amendment language was taken out of the final funding bill, it is our understanding that efforts are again underway in the House to undermine peer review and disparage research projects that have been through the NIH's strict peer review system.

In the past two years, there have been similar attacks on other areas of peer-reviewed research projects, including: sexual behavior, demography, and basic behavioral research on identity, motivation, and personality. We expect similar areas of basic behavioral research to be attacked once again because they are not seen as relevant to public health or the NIH mission. We urge you to take a moment to call your member of Congress to express your support for NIH and its peer review process.

Scientists need to make their voice heard on this issue. NIH's peer review process is the gold standard for determining the quality and relevance of grant proposals. Scientists from universities across the country with expertise in their fields of research make independent and objective evaluations of each proposal submitted to the NIH. Advisory councils with public representation also approve studies before NIH funds them. Efforts to restrict peer-reviewed research would undermine one of the core principles of the research enterprise.

ACTION NEEDED:

We need you to CALL your Representative and ask him/her to support the NIH and the integrity of the peer review process by voting against any amendment that seeks to cut off funding for research projects that have been peer-reviewed.

If you know who your Representative is, you can call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121 and ask to be transferred to their office.

If you do not know who your Representative is, you can find him or her by following this link to the Web site of the U.S. House of Representatives and typing in your zip-code at the appropriate space at the top of the Web site.
Find your 9-digit zip code (you may need this to locate your Representative)

We have included a sample script. Thank you for all your help.

Sample Scripts:

"Hello, my name is ______________ with (university or other affiliation), and I am a constituent. I would like to speak to the Legislative Assistant who works on health care and research issues."

When you get the legislative assistant (LA):
"I am a constituent and a scientist. I am calling to express my appreciation for the Representative's support for the National Institutes of Health and to ask that he/she support scientific integrity by voting against any amendments that seek to restrict NIH's ability to support research projects that have been peer reviewed and funded by the NIH. If such an amendment is offered, do you know how the Representative plans to vote?"

If you get voice mail:
"Please call me back [leave phone number] and let me know how the Representative plans to vote."

If the reply is positive:
"Thank you. We look forward to the Representative's leadership on this issue."

If the reply is negative:
"I must tell you that I feel very strongly about this issue. I respectfully disagree with Rep. (member) position and hope that he/she will reconsider."

If the staffer has legislative questions or needs more information: "I will confer with our legislative staff in Washington and either she or I will get back to you shortly."

Ending the conversation:
"Thank you for your time. Please consider me a resource on the issue."

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Karen Studwell via email or at (202) 336-5585, in APA's Public Policy Office. We would appreciate hearing from you if you call your Representative. Please let us know the response you receive.