• NIH Reform Act of 2006, H.R. 6164, passes the House of Representatives 414-2
• Update on VA medical and prosthetic research
• NIH Director featured in Newsweek magazine’s international edition
• Find out how your representatives feel about research issues

NIH Reform Act of 2006 passes the House

On Tuesday, October 26, 2006 the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6164, the NIH Reform Act of 2006, with a vote of 414-2. The debate centered on the achievements of the agency and the only objections to the bill were requests for higher yearly increases for the NIH and for the addition of disease specific initiatives. Representatives voting against the bill were Rep. Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Jackson (D-IL).

The Senate has yet to consider corresponding legislation in this Congress.

VA medical and prosthetic research update

The Friends of VA sent around this update on VA medical and prosthetic research funding earlier this week:

On behalf of the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) coalition, thank you for your continued support of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical and Prosthetics Research Program.  We write to provide an update on activities related to the VA research agenda, including Congress’ progress with the FY 2007 appropriations.

The House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing on Thursday, September 28, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. in 334 Cannon House Office Building.  The oversight hearing will address Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Emerging trends in force (force?) and veteran health.   

On September 12, 2006, the Institute of Medicine released a report entitled, “Gulf War and Health: Volume 4. Health Effects of Serving in the Gulf War.”  The report is based on an analysis by an IOM committee charged “to review, evaluate, and summarize peer-reviewed scientific and medical literature addressing the health status of Gulf War veterans.”  While the report dismisses the theory that Gulf War illness is a single syndrome, the committee does recommend further study into the prevalence of particular diseases among the Gulf War veteran population. 

Finally,  the House passed the Military-Quality of Life appropriations bill—which funds the VA research program—in May  However,  the full Senate has yet to consider its equivalent legislation, the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs bill, even though fiscal year 2007 begins on October 1.  The defense and homeland security measures are in conference this week and the defense bill currently includes a resolution to continue to fund the federal government through November 17, 2006.  A September 22, 2006, House Appropriations Committee press release said programs will be funded “at the lower rate of House-passed, Senate-passed or last year’s funding level.”  The House-passed Military-Quality of Life appropriations bill sets VA research funding at $412 million, the same as the FY 2006 appropriation. 

Again, thank you for supporting the VA research program through you membership in FOVA.  Please feel free to contact the following members of the FOVA Executive Committee with questions about the appropriations process or the VA research program.

NIH Director Elias Zerhouni interviewed by Newsweek

In last week’s international edition of Newsweek, NIH director Elias Zerhouni talks about his plans for NIH, including the Roadmap for Biomedical Research.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14759485/site/newsweek/page/3/

Research!America Polls the Candidates

To find out how your Congressional representatives answered a series of questions about biomedical research, go to:
http://www.yourcandidatesyourhealth.org/

If your representatives have not responded to the poll, let them know that you’d like them to!