Take Action
About a year and a half ago, the Society launched an online advocacy center, creating a simple and fast way for ASH members to contact Congress. With a few clicks of a mouse, ASH's "e-advocacy" system allows members across the country to provide federal policymakers with information on how public policy issues affect hematologists and the patients they treat. Many ASH members have questioned whether their voices are actually heard when participating in online advocacy campaigns. The short answer is YES - grassroots advocacy is extremely critical in influencing legislation. A recent example occurred in mid-March when ASH Grassroots Network members acted quickly in an online advocacy campaign urging their Senators to support the Specter-Harkin amendment to the budget resolution. The amendment passed with an overwhelming vote and added an additional $7 billion for health and education programs (including some programs of the NIH and CDC).
Now is an important time to take action, contact Congress, and continue to make the voices of hematologists heard. At press time, two pieces of legislation to which ASH is committed were stalled in Congress due to political pressure - the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (HR 810) and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (HR 1227). In addition, Congressional deliberations over the federal budget are in full swing. Visit the ASH Advocacy Center (www.hematology.org/takeaction) today to learn more about ASH advocacy campaigns for these and other important issues and to TAKE ACTION!
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News Headlines from Washington
President Bush Nominates von Eschenbach as FDA Chief
On March 15, President George W. Bush nominated Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach to serve as Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. von Eschenbach will maintain his current title as the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Director while also serving as Acting Commissioner of FDA. Dr. John Niederhuber will continue to serve as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the NCI. At press time, no decision had been made regarding the new director of the NCI, but it is expected that Dr. von Eschenbach will soon step down from this position. Visit the ASH Web site at www.hematology.org for the latest news regarding these positions.
Thrombosis in the Elderly Tops Spring Agendas
The U.S. Surgeon General's office, along with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, is co-sponsoring a workshop on deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in early May. The goal of the meeting is to identify challenges and promote public health in relation to DVT. Prior to the May workshop, Roy Silverstein, MD, Chair of the ASH Government Affairs Committee, met with the Deputy Surgeon General RADM Kenneth P. Moritsugu, MD, MPH, along with ASH staff, to discuss the Society's upcoming projects related to thrombosis, as well as ways in which ASH can partner with the Surgeon General's office on future projects.
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