October 9, 2007

Headline

Congress Set to Clash with President Over Research Funding

The Democratic-controlled Congress and the Administration are set to clash over Fiscal Year 2008 Labor-Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations (Labor-HHS-ED) legislation, with the President threatening a veto over the bill's $23 billion in spending above the administration's 2008 budget. The annual Labor-HHS-ED bill funds all health research and services. The Senate will consider the bill the week of October 15th, in spite of earlier announcements by the Senate leadership that the measure would be rolled into an omnibus package.

The Senate Labor-HHS-ED bill includes a 3.6% increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), while the bill passed by the House in July includes a 2.6% increase. Both bills would subtract 5% ($201 million) from NIH's budget for the global AIDS fund. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) fares slightly better under the House bill, where it receives a 4.3% increase over the 4.0% increase in the Senate Labor-HHS bill. The ATS Washington Office will be working to ensure that the higher funding levels for NIH and CDC are enacted and will let members know when their action is needed to support these efforts.

Clean Air

Medical Societies Join ATS in Ozone Comment to EPA

The ATS and sister organizations filed an amicus curie - friend of the court - brief in the lawsuit American Farm Bureau Federation v. EPA regarding national standards for particulate matter pollution. In the case, industry groups are seeking to vacate the EPA standard for particulate matter issued earlier this because it is too strict, while several states and environmental groups are suing the EPA to vacate standard because it is too permissive and does not protect the public health.

The amicus brief filed by the ATS encourages the court to direct EPA to issue a particulate matter more protective of public health. The brief notes that while EPA did take action to issue a revised daily particulate matter exposure standard, EPA failed to take action on the annual standard and thereby placing the public health at risk to the adverse health effects of long-term exposure to particulate matter. Joining the ATS in the brief is the American Medical Association, American College of Chest Physicians, American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and the National Association for the Medical Direction of Respiratory Care.

ATS Joins Lawsuit on Particulate Matter Pollution

The Democratic-controlled Congress and the Administration are set to clash over Fiscal Year 2008 Labor-Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations (Labor-HHS-ED) legislation, with the President threatening a veto over the bill's $23 billion in spending above the administration's 2008 budget. The annual Labor-HHS-ED bill funds all health research and services. The Senate will consider the bill the week of October 15th, in spite of earlier announcements by the Senate leadership that the measure would be rolled into an omnibus package.

The Senate Labor-HHS-ED bill includes a 3.6% increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), while the bill passed by the House in July includes a 2.6% increase. Both bills would subtract 5% ($201 million) from NIH's budget for the global AIDS fund. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) fares slightly better under the House bill, where it receives a 4.3% increase over the 4.0% increase in the Senate Labor-HHS bill. The ATS Washington Office will be working to ensure that the higher funding levels for NIH and CDC are enacted and will let members know when their action is needed to support these efforts.

Tuberculosis

House Letter in Support of Increased Global TB Funding

This week Rep. Payne (D-NJ), along with twenty-seven other House Representatives, sent a letter to House Appropriations Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chairwoman Lowey (D-NY) and Ranking Member Wolf (R-VA) in support of increased funding for global tuberculosis (TB) control. The letter urges support for the $200 million provided in the Senate Foreign Operations Appropriations bill to help stop the spread of tuberculosis. The House bill would provide $150 million and the difference between these two numbers will be worked out in a conference committee between members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committee's. The letter notes that TB poses a danger to Americans both at home and abroad and threatens to undermine U. S. efforts to treat HIV/AIDS overseas.

Points of Contact