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The Foundation and its volunteers advocate for federal funding to support NF research. Update December 21, 2009 On December 16th, the House voted to approve the FY2010 defense appropriations bill which included $13.75 million for the CDMRP-NFRP. While this amount was reduced from the $25 million in the original House bill, it is a 37% increase over the $10 million in FY2009. The Senate passed the bill on Saturday, December 19th, and President Obama signed it later that day. Thank you to all NF supporters who participated in this years advacacy campaign! For more information please check our the blog entry with additional details. Update October 31, 2009 With only four of twelve FY2010 appropriations bills passed by today's expiration of a continuing resolution (CR), Congress has passed another CR that will expire on December 18th. Although the healthcare debate is taking center stage this fall, this new CR should allow sufficient time for both chambers to finish their work on appropriation bills and have them on the Presidents desk in December. We are cautiously optimistic that the $25 million for the CDMRP-NFRP in the House version of the defense appropriations bill will be included in the final bill, and will update this page as soon as the final bill is signed. Thank you to the many supporters who participated in our advocacy campaign this year. Please visit our blog entry for the great news of $25mln included in the House appropriations bill for NF Research. There is still much work to done. We applaud the House members, and particularly the Defense Subcommittee, for their recognition that this vital program has demonstrated a record of accomplishment and merits restoring the funding back to the level of FY2005.
This is only the first step in the appropriations process. The Senate will be working to draft their version of the defense appropriations bill when they return to DC after Labor Day. After this bill passes the Senate, Members from each house form a conference committee and meet to work out the differences. After reaching a compromise, a written conference report is submitted to each chamber. After the conference report is approved by both the House and the Senate, the bill is sent to the President for his signature. To help support this program we need you to do two small things: 1. Write both of your Senators to ask for their support to maintain the level of funding in the House bill. As with the House, members of the Defense Subcommittee are the key decision makers on the final level of funding included in the bill. Click here to download a sample Senate letter. For contact information for Senators please visit www.senate.gov. Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Defense Subcommittee
2. While the House has completed their work on the bill for this year, it is important that we write our Representatives to thank them for the House leadership on this program. While all voices are important, the subcommittee members who are key to this process are listed below. If you live in one of their districts please contact them to thank them, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Click here to download a sample House letter, and to locate your Representatives website and contact information please visit www.house.gov. Members of the House Appropriations Committee Defense Subcommittee
Leverage your effort by asking family and friends to write as well. The more voices our legislators hear from, the greater our chances of preserving this important program. NF Research is funded through a variety of federal agencies, including several of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program - Neurofibromatosis Research Program (CDMRP-NFRP). In 1991 the Foundation began a formal advocacy and lobbying program for increased federal funding of NF research. NIH is the primary source of federal funding for medical research, but various other agencies support research initiatives as well. In 1996 Congress added Neurofibromatosis to the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP-NFRP). As with NIH, this funding does not go to the Foundation, but directly to researchers through a strict peer review process. More information on the CDMRP-NFRP can be found at this link (http://cdmrp.army.mil/nfrp/default.htm) and in the research area of our website. It is important to note that this funding is not an earmark. It is not directed to any one institution, state or district. It is a long standing program that makes grants solely on a peer review basis. Further, this is not a partisan issue - this funding has benefited over the years from strong support from both Democrats and Republicans. The accomplishments and return on investment from the CDMRP are a shining example of what the federal government can achieve when legislators work with the scientific community and non-profit organizations. |