February 2007 Advocacy Update

Following a busy start to the 110th Congress that saw House passage of stem cell research legislation and continuation of the FY 2007 appropriations process, Congress is set to continue work on these measures and others throughout the month of February. Below is the latest information on legislation ASH is following and links to current online advocacy campaigns.

NIH Appropriations
Earlier this week, after months of delays and negotiations, House and Senate negotiators agreed on funding levels for federal agencies and programs for FY 2007. Through the efforts of ASH and others, congressional appropriators provided a $2.3 billion increase for health and education programs over FY 2006 funding levels, including nearly $620 million in increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH funding includes $91 million for grants to first-time investigators, as well as funding to provide nearly 500 research project grants. The House passed the FY 2007 funding bill (H.J.Res. 20) by a vote of 286 - 140 on January 31st. The Senate is expected to consider the bill prior to the expiration of the current continuing resolution (CR) the federal government is currently operating under on February 15th. President Bush is set to unveil his FY 2008 budget proposal to Congress on February 5th, marking the beginning of the FY 2008 budget process. It is expected that the proposal will offer only a 1-2 percent increase (at most) for NIH over current funding levels, with a proposal from the Administration for level-funding a distinct possibility.

The FY 2008 budget process is likely to be difficult and ASH advocacy will be necessary to ensure hematologic research is adequately funded at NIH. For more information about FY 2008 NIH funding and to participate in ASH's online advocacy campaign, please visit the ASH Advocacy Center.

Genetic Information Nondisclosure Act
Legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate to prevent an individual's genetic information from being used in a discriminatory manner. H.R. 493 and S. 358, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, would protect individuals from discrimination in health insurance policies and employment on the basis of their genetic information. This protection aims to help reduce concerns about the potential for discrimination in hiring and in availability and costs of health insurance, and encourages individuals to take advantage of genetic testing, new technologies and therapies and participate in genetic research. See ASH's policy statement in support of genetic information non discrimination for more information.

Both the House and the Senate held hearings on the legislation earlier this week and may act on the bill in the near future. The legislation has easily passed the Senate in the last several Congresses, but has stalled in the House. President Bush has indicated his support for legislation to protect genetic information privacy.

Please visit the ASH Advocacy Center to contact your Member of Congress and Senators to urge their support of this important legislation.

Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act
Following House passage in early January, the Senate is set to act on legislation to expand the current federal policy on embryonic stem cell research by allowing federal funding on stem cell lines derived after August 9, 2001. H.R. 3 also establishes strict ethical guidelines for this field of research by requiring that federal funds not be used to derive stem cells or destroy embryos.

The Senate is expected to take up the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act identical embryonic stem cell legislation (S. 5) in February; although President Bush has reiterated his intention to veto this legislation, congressional supporters of the bill remain hopeful that a compromise can be reached with the White House.

ASH's embryonic stem cell research advocacy campaign generated numerous e-mails from across the country to the House of Representatives. However, House passage of this bill was only the first step in making expanded federal funding of embryonic stem cell research a reality. The Society is continuing to work with Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA), the primary Senate sponsors of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, to ensure approval of this legislation in the Senate.

Please visit the ASH Advocacy Center to contact your Senators to urge their support of this important legislation.

HHS Issues New Clinical Trials Reporting Guidelines
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Human Research Protections, has issued new guidelines for clinical trials reporting requirements for those clinical trails conducted or supported by HHS. Of particular importance is the requirement that "unanticipated problems" must be reported. Additional information concerning these guidelines may be found on the HHS Web site.

Practice Update
ASH continues to follow issues of interest to the practicing community. For the latest information concerning physician reimbursement issues, please see the Practice Update.

For more information on any of these issues, please contact Tracy Becker, ASH Research Advocacy Manager, at 202-776-0544 or tbecker@hematology.org.