November 11, 2005

Dear (Member):

As you consider the FY06 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations bill (H.R. 3010), we strongly encourage you to support the Senate recommended appropriation of $29.4 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and oppose an amendment that would impede the exchange of scientific information among federal scientists and their peers.

Investments in biomedical and behavioral research at the NIH have contributed to significant medical advances in prevention, care and treatment for diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Over the last few years, however, funding for the agency has stagnated. The ability of the NIH to fund new research initiatives and respond to emerging public health threats is dependent upon the receipt of adequate federal funding. Therefore, we urge you to include an appropriation of $29.4 billion for the NIH as recommended in the Senate bill.

Also included in the Senate bill however, is an amendment introduced by Senator Coburn that would reduce the budget for travel, conference programs, and related expenses for the Department of Health and Human Services by $15 million. This troubling amendment would prevent some of our nation's top scientists from participating in scientific meetings where researchers exchange the latest data and information in their fields, thus hindering the dissemination of advances in research and inhibiting our ability to effectively and efficiently combat diseases like HIV/AIDS. For these reasons, we encourage you not to support the adoption of this provision into a final FY06 Labor/HHS/Education bill.

As organizations committed to the advancement of AIDS research, we encourage you to continue our nation's investment in medical research and support an appropriation of $29.4 billion for the NIH.

Sincerely,