[mla-nynj] FW: Action Alert/SUPPORT FUNDING FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

[Robb Mackes]

________________________________

From: Mahnaz Tehrani [mailto:mtehrani at nyit.edu] 
Sent: Tuesday, 11 March, 2008 13:09
To: mla-nynj
Subject: Action Alert/SUPPORT FUNDING FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF
HEALTH


Dear Members,

I would like to draw your prompt attention to the following message that
was just received.

Thanks,
Mahnaz Tehrani
NY-NJ GRC Advocate
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	MEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION / ASSOCIATION OF ACADEMIC HEALTH
SCIENCES LIBRARIES
	*ACTION ALERT*
	SUPPORT FUNDING FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
	PLEASE RESPOND TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY THIS WEEK
	

	Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) have
announced that they are going to offer an amendment to the Senate FY09
Budget Resolution (Senate Concurrent Resolution 70) which would provide
significant new funding for the NIH.  
	
	The amendment would authorize an additional $2.1 billion for the
NIH in FY09, bringing the agency's total funding level up to $32.2
billion. If adopted, the House and Senate appropriations committees
would still have to provide this additional funding in the FY09
appropriations bill that funds NIH, but including it in the budget
resolution would be a significant first step.  
	
	A vote on the Specter/Harkin amendment could occur anytime in
the next few days. MLA/AAHSL members are encouraged to contact their two
senators and do the following:
	1)      Identify yourself as a constituent and ask to speak with
the senator's health legislative assistant.
	 2)  Make the case for additional funding. Remind your senators
that NIH has been flat-funded in recent years.
	 3)  Ask that the senator "vote yes on the Specter/Harkin
amendment to increase funding for the NIH in the FY09 budget
resolution."
	 4)     Give the aide your contact information and ask to be
kept informed of the senator's actions on your request.  
	 
	You will likely receive the aide's voicemail, so leave a
message, be persistent, and follow-up.
	If you don't know who your two senators are or how to get in
touch with them, please visit www.senate.gov <http://www.senate.gov/>
or call the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121.  Thank You!
	 

Mary M. Langman, Coordinator
Information Issues and Policy
Medical Library Association
65 E. Wacker Pl., Ste. 1900
Chicago, Illinois 60601-7246

ph  312/419-9094, ext. 27
fax  312/419-8950
mlaedo2 at mlahq.org