HHS appropriations

Executive Summary

Senate debate on the Labor/HHS appropriations bill (H.R. 2660) began Sept. 2. Amendment expected from Sens. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) would add $1.5 bil. to NIH's appropriation, bring total FY 2004 increase to $2.5 bil. Aug. 29 letter signed by more than 575 health organizations urges Senate to support amendment. "Without additional funding, ongoing research will be stalled and pathways of discovery will not be explored," the groups write in their second joint letter on NIH funding. Groups have initiated national advertising efforts and coordinated grassroots activities targeting Congress...