September 21, 2009--Students and postdocs from ASBMB members’ laboratories around the country will join members of the Public Affairs Advisory Committee in Washington this week for a series of meetings with key policy makers. In meetings with Institute and Center Directors from the National Institutes of Health as well as members of Congress and their staff, participants will emphasize the importance of increased financial support for the National Institutes of Health.
On Monday, Chairman William Merrick of Case Western Reserve University and four members of the Public Affairs advisory committee will meet with five institute directors, including Dr. Jeremy Berg of the National Institute for General Medical Sciences, and Dr. Sally Rockey, the Deputy Director of Extramural Research.
During each meeting, the committee will discuss how the NIH can utilize its more that $20 billion extramural research budget to promote innovation and translate research from the bench to the bedside.
During Tuesday’s “Hill day,” nine students and postdocs from around the country will join committee members to meet with key members of congress and their staff. Teams of 2-4 will visit more 25 congressional offices including 12 of members of the appropriations committees in the house and senate.
As NIH funded researchers, Hill day participants will emphasize the human health and economic benefits of funding the NIH. Participants plan to thank legislators for providing the NIH with much needed funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“ the stimulus”). Participants will also emphasize the need to increase NIH funding levels in long-term and sustainable ways, beginning in 2010.
Participants will cover their meetings and progress during Tuesday’s Hill day live via Twitter (http://twitter.com/ASBMB).
On Monday evening, participants will receive training from members of ASBMB’s Office of Public Affairs. The training session will include discussions of current state of the federal budget process as well as best practices for communicating with congress.
For more information on Hill Day, contact: Kyle Brown (kmbrown@asbmb.org)