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Speak Out against CUTS to NIH!

The below Legislative Alert calls to attention the current dire situation for
NIH funding.

Funding for NIH (including the NIDDK which conducts critical research into
Celiac disease) in next year's Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill is only slightly
above last year's levels-inadequate to compensate for inflation and the
development of promising research. HOWEVER, Congress is also in the process of
approving a 1% across-the-board cut to ALL discretionary programs (except Veterans
programs)-including NIH.

THIS CUT WILL DECREASE THE NIH FUNDING LEVEL for the first time in a
generation and put in MORTAL JEPORADY the research that can lead to treatments and
eventually a cure for Celiac disease.  Not only will this cut affect the work of
NIH for this year, but will set back medical research into Celiac disease for
many years to come.

Because the Celiac community relies heavily on research conducted by NIH, it
is CRITICAL that individuals SPEAK OUT AGAINST THIS BILL. Because of the low
NIH funding, the Celiac community must demand that the Labor-HHS appropriations
bill be rejected, and a new bill that addresses the funding needs of NIH be
enacted.

The bill has passed the House of Representatives and awaits a vote in the
Senate. If you have not yet contacted your Senator to ask for their "no" vote on
this bill, PLEASE DO SO NOW.  If you have, please do so again. To reach your
Senator, call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected
with the offices of your state's Senators.

The progress of vital research for Celiac disease and countless other
ailments and conditions lies in the balance.  Please do your part and speak out!

Jonathan R Pawlow, Jr.
Digestive Disease National Coalition
507 Capitol Court, NE, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20002
202-544-7497
202-546-7105 (fax)
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NIH APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE

CONTINUE TO URGE CONGRESS TO SUPPORT BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH IN THE FINAL FISCAL
YEAR 2006 LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS BILL

The United States Senate was expected to vote on the fiscal year 2006
appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and
Education last week.  The health community's advocacy in opposition to the
Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill had an impact in the Senate, as Senate
Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) set aside a vote on the bill.

However, on Sunday, December 18th, the House passed the fiscal year 2006
Defense appropriations bill, which included a 1% reduction in appropriations for
all federal programs excluding veterans' assistance. This means the budget for
the National Institutes of Health (NIH) would receive a cut in funding,
leaving the budget below fiscal year 2005 levels, if the Senate approves the fiscal
year 2006 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. The Senate is expected to
vote this week, as early as today, on the bill.

REQUESTED ACTION:

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SENATORS IMMEDIATELY AND URGE THEM TO
VOTE NO ON THE LABOR-HHS APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORT.
IN ADDITION, ASK THEM TO RESTORE FUNDING FOR NIH IN THE BILL TO THE LEVEL
ORIGINALLY CALLED FOR IN THE SENATE VERSION OF THE LEGISLATION ($29.3 BILLION).


TO CONTACT YOUR SENATORS, PLEASE VISIT WWW.SENATE.GOV OR CALL THE U.S.
CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD AT (202) 224-3121.

*Please provide references to back up claims of a product being GF or not GF*