AST URGENT CALL TO ACTION

URGE YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TODAY TO SUPPORT ROBUST FEDERAL FUNDING FOR NIH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH

As Members of Congress have embarked on a month long August recess period back in their home States and Congressional Districts, it is imperative that they continue to hear from their constituent AST members regarding the unfinished and inadequate approach that Congress has taken thus far with regard to NIH and medical research funding in FY 2014.

As you know, AST's Public Policy Committee and Wash, DC Government Relations office continue to meet daily with Congressional decision-makers on Capitol Hill in support of $32 billion for FY 2014. This is the agreed upon figure that the national research community has collectively been requesting for this upcoming fiscal year.

Although AST's message continues to be delivered and conveyed in the halls of Congress......former Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill said it best when he stated that, "All politics are local". Please take a moment today to reach out to your 2 U.S. Senators and 1 House Representative. Let them know that you are aware, watching and feeling the direct effects of inadequate federal funding for NIH and medical research in your local institution and home State.

AST urges you to:

* Call the Capitol Hill switchboard (202) 225-3121 and ask to be connected with your Senator's offices as well as the office of your Member of the House of Representatives;

* Once connected to the office, identify yourself as a local constituent...including your medical institution;

* Ask to be connected to the Health Care Legislative Assistant (LA);

* Ask the Health Care LA to convey your strong support for $32 billion NIH funding level in FY 2014....and that they share your concerns with their boss regarding the negative consequences and trends occurring back in the home State as a result of federal NIH and medical research cut backs.....loss of local jobs, leadership of local institution, decay of innovation, and the next generation of scientists.

In addition to calling/discussing or leaving a message with your Members of Congress, you may also go to the FASEB website for easy instructions on how to send a quick pre-drafted letter to your Congressional delegation.

The FASEB link is: http://capwiz.com/faseb/home/

Some additional thoughts to convey with your Members of Congress (beyond the local impact of inadequate medical research funding) may also include:

* A decade of federal research funding cuts is now sidelining the careers of many of America's next generation of most highly skilled workers.

* "Which of those (frozen research) grants might have been the next breakthrough in cancer research?" said NIH Director Francis Collins. "Which of those grants was going to support the career of a young scientist who will now basically give up and say I'd better do something else or move to another country? We'll never know. They're gone."