APA's Science Policy Insider News August 2003

[Subscribe to SPIN]  Senate Scheduled to Debate NIH Appropriations While Congress has been out of session during the month-long August recess, APA science policy staff have been focused on two issues that may affect the National Institutes of Health (NIH). When it reconvenes September 2, the Senate is scheduled to begin debate on the FY2004 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations (LHHS) bill. The Senate LHHS bill, which funds the NIH and other research, health and education programs, currently includes a $1 billion increase, or 3.7 percent, over the FY 2003 budget to bring NIH funding to $27.9 billion. There is a chance that NIH funding levels can still be increased. Senate Labor, HHS and Education Subcommittee Chair Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Ranking Member Tom Harkin (D-IA) plan to offer an amendment during the Senate floor consideration of the bill to increase NIH funding by an additional $1.5 billion, for a total increase of $2.5 billion, or 9.2 percent, over FY 2003. The funding increase would be achieved by pushing back into FY 2003 $1.5 billion in funding advances that were appropriated in FY 2003, but advanced into FY 2004. By moving advances in this manner, it permits an additional $1.5 billion to be appropriated for the NIH without breaking the cap for FY 2004. However, because this amendment would violate the FY 2003 spending cap imposed in the FY 2004 budget resolution, it will require 60 votes to pass. We encourage you to contact your Senators to urge them to support the Specter-Harkin Amendment. More about the Specter-Harkin Amendment, including information on how to contact your Senators available here. Sex Research Still Vulnerable to Possible Senate Amendment As we reported in the last SPIN, the House narrowly defeated an amendment that proposed to restrict funding for several peer-reviewed studies funded by NIH. APA science policy staff is working with other scientific and public health organizations to educate Senate offices about this issue in preparation for a possible Senate amendment on the LHHS Appropriations bill when it comes to the Senate floor the first week of September. While it is still not clear that an amendment will be offered, we encourage you to contact your Senators to urge them to vote no on any amendments that would interfere with funding decisions made by NIH on peer-reviewed research. More about this issue, including information on how to contact your Senators available here. [back to top] Any questions? If you have any questions regarding SPIN or specific science policy issues, please feel free to contact any of APA’s Science PPO staff. Geoff Mumford, Ph.D., Director of Science Policy Pat Kobor, Senior Science Policy Analyst Heather O'Beirne Kelly, Ph.D., Senior Legislative and Federal Affairs Officer Karen Studwell, J.D., Legislative and Federal Affairs Officer Sara Robinson, Legislative Assistant

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