"From the Desk of Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., Director NIH," the Summer 2006 issue of an e-publication from the NIH Director is now available on-line. This issue is titled, "Investing in NIH is Ensuring a Healthier Future".

The Congressional Budget season is upon us in earnest. The federal budget process begins on the first Monday in February when the President submits to Congress a detailed budget request for the coming federal fiscal year, which begins on October 1.

After receiving the President's budget request, Congress generally holds hearings to question Administration officials about their requests and then develops its own budget resolution. This work is done by the House and Senate Budget Committees, whose sole function is to draft the budget resolution. Once the committees are done, the budget resolution goes to the House and Senate floor, where it is debated and can be amended (by a majority vote).

Once the House and Senate complete their work on the budget, it goes to a House-Senate conference to resolve any differences, and a conference report is passed by both houses. The budget resolution is a "concurrent" congressional resolution, not an ordinary bill, and therefore does not go to the President for his signature or veto. It also requires only a majority vote to pass, and is one of the few pieces of legislation that cannot be filibustered in the Senate.

Finally, once the Congress has a budget to work from, the Budget Committee turns the budget over to the Appropriators. The report that accompanies the budget resolution includes a table called the "302(a) allocation."

The House and Senate Appropriations Committee each receive a single 302(a) allocation for all of the federally funded programs. The committees then decide how to divide this funding among the many subcommittees, into what are known as 302(b) sub-allocations.

When the Appropriations subcommittees receive their individual sub-allocations, they are able to begin the difficult work of funding the program under their jurisdiction, as long as the total does not exceed the 302(b) amount.

Your Voice Still Needs to Be Heard
The House Budget Committee voted down the amendment offered by Rep. Rosa DeLauro that would have increased health and education funding in the House Budget Resolution by $7 billion. All 22 Republicans voted no and the 14 Democrats present voted aye.

ACTION: It’s time to focus all attention on all Members of the House of Representatives. Call or E-Mail Your US Representative! Ask your Member of Congress to support the NIH by increasing health and education funding in the House budget resolution. Ask them to support the efforts to include an additional $7 billion for health and education programs to the FY 2007 budget.

Ask your representative to Support Rep. Michael Castle’s (R-DE) plan to amend the budget resolution on the House Floor to include $7 billion the Senate added for health and education programs to the FY 2007 budget.

ACTION IS NEEDED NOW. The Congressional schedule has not been finalized, but the House is expected to consider the budget during the week of April 3.

• Your voice matters - phone calls as well as emails will make an impact on the way your Representative will vote. Remember, this is a matter of urgency.
• Simply visit Capwiz. At this site, you should be to follow the step-by-step instructions for calling/emailing your Congressional representative. A sample letter will be provided for you.
• At the above website, by simply entering your zip code, you will be given the name, address, phone number, fax, website, and email address of your Member of Congress.
• If you call, don’t hesitate to leave a message with the receptionist or on voice mail. You may also ask to speak to the Representatives Health Care Legislative Assistant. Be sure to leave your message, you name, your phone number and if you have time your address. Keep your message brief and to the point.

Background
The House of Representatives is taking up the President’s Budget request. As you know, the Senate added money to the section of the budget that funds the NIH thanks to Senators Specter (R-PA) and Harkin (D-IA).

Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) has agreed to take the lead on supporting the Specter-Harkin amendment when the budget is debated on the floor of the House.

Remember As a community we were able to come together to urge a cross section of Republican Senators to vote in favor of providing additional funding for health care and education programs. We need to exert the same all out effort in contacting all House Members - Republicans and Democrats - to deliver the message that the FY 2007 budget must include an additional $7 billion for health and education programs.