News Headlines from Washington
President Nominates Michael B. Leavitt as Next Secretary of Health and Human Services
On December 13, 2004, President Bush nominated Michael Leavitt - head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and former Governor of Utah - to be Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Current Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced his resignation on December 3. The HHS Secretary oversees the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Medicaid and Medicare programs.
Mr. Leavitt served as Utah's governor for 11 years before the President appointed him to lead the EPA last year. His nomination is believed to be based in part on his experience with Medicaid during his tenure as Utah's governor. Utah was one of the first states to receive a federal waiver to change its state Medicaid program. The waiver allowed Utah to finance an expansion of Medicaid coverage by reducing benefits for some patients already in the program.
Mr. Leavitt, 53, is a father of five and a devout Mormon. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics and business from Southern Utah University. It appears that Mr. Leavitt will face an easy confirmation process in the Senate, since he was confirmed as EPA Administrator by a vote of 88 to 8 last year.
At press time, several Senate Committees were holding hearings on Mr. Leavitt's nomination.
NHLBI Grant Opportunity-
Critical Issues in Post-Phlebitic Syndrome
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recently published a Request for Applications (RFA) to support research on venous biology, with the goal of accelerating preclinical studies and developing better management principles of post-phlebitic syndrome. Research supported through this initiative is expected to yield a better understanding of how the venous wall responds to a clot, the nature of valve malfunction, and the role of inflammation in the disease process.
NHLBI plans to commit $4 million in fiscal year 2006 to fund ten to 12 grants on this topic. Letters of intent are due April 26, 2005; applications must be completed by May 24, 2005. Questions or more information about this RFA should be directed to NHLBI's Pan Ganguly, Ph.D., at 301-435-0069 or gangulyp@nhlbi.nih.gov. Further hematology-related research grant opportunities from NIH and other federal agencies can be found on the ASH Web site.
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Take Action
ASH supports greater FY 2006 funding increases for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) than are being proposed by the Bush Administration. The Society needs its members to contact their Senators and Representatives to help ensure that Congress gets the message that hematologists and the patients that we treat want the House and Senate FY 2006 Budget Proposals to include more funding for NIH research.
This year, Congress and the White House could approve a FY 2006 NIH funding increase in the 1-3 percent range. By being proactive and contacting your Senators and Representatives early in the budget debate, you are educating them about the benefits of NIH-sponsored investigation and the valuable research that is occurring in their states and districts. Without your input, Members of Congress will not have the firsthand knowledge they need to make well-informed decisions about funding NIH.
Visit http://ga4.org/ashgrassroots/home.html today and make your voice heard!
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