Washington Highlights: April 7, 2006

Contents FY 2007 Budget Stalls in the House House Republicans Circulate Letter Opposing Proposed Medicaid Cuts Senate Appropriations Committee Adds Pandemic Flu Funding to Supplemental National Biosecurity Board Considers Criteria for Detecting "Dual Use" President Signs Higher Ed. Act Extension Prior Issues March 31, 2006 March 24, 2006 March 17, 2006 March 10, 2006 March 3, 2006 Archive

FY 2007 Budget Stalls in the House

After weeks of negotiations, the House Republican leadership April 6 decided to delay action on the FY 2007 Budget Resolution (H.Con.Res. 376) until after the Easter recess. In a statement released April 6, House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) blamed Democrats for the budget delay and vowed to "remain committed to working with all members to reach agreement on budget process reforms so we can move forward with the budget after the Easter District work period."

The leadership decided to the pull the Budget Resolution when it could not craft a compromise between three factions within the Republican Party. On April 4, moderate Republicans Michael Castle (Del.), Nancy Johnson (Conn.), and Dave Reichert (Wash.) announced they would seek an amendment to add $7 billion to the budget resolution in discretionary spending to restore cuts in health, education, and low-income energy subsidies. AAMC President Jordan Cohen, M.D., sent a letter to all members of the House urging them to vote against the budget resolution unless it includes the additional $7 billion for health, education, and human services programs.

Conservative Republicans strongly opposed additional funds in the budget resolution. Republican Study Committee Chair Mike Pence (Ind.) suggested a "significant departure" of conservative votes for the resolution if the $7 billion was added to the budget resolution.

Conservatives also were unhappy that the budget resolution approved by the House Budget Committee March 29 did not call for greater cuts in mandatory spending. In return for their support of the budget resolution, the Republican Study Committee sought a series of tougher budget rules, including a line-item veto and earmark reform. Conservatives announced April 6 that they had a deal with the leadership on budget reforms, but they were immediately challenged by House appropriators, who signaled they would oppose any change in budget rules that would limit their authority. In an April 6 statement, House Appropriations Chair Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) said, "I cannot and will not support a resolution that greatly diminishes Congress' ability to respond to national disasters and makes it more difficult for us to get our budget work done on time."

The House adjourned April 6 and will return to Washington on Tuesday, April 25.

Information:
Dave Moore, Senior Director
AAMC Government Relations
dbmoore@aamc.org
(202) 828-0525

House Republicans Circulate Letter Opposing Proposed Medicaid Cuts

Reps. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), Peter King (R-N.Y.), Dave Reichert (R-Wash.), and Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) are circulating a House Republicans-only Medicaid sign-on letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt. The letter opposes the President's FY 2007 budget proposals to cut $12.2 billion in Medicaid funding over five years through regulatory changes [see Washington Highlights, Feb. 10].

Stating that "any savings in the Medicaid program should be a result of policy discussions with congressional input," the letter urges Secretary Leavitt to "work with us and other members of Congress to protect and improve the Medicaid program for our constituents." As of press time, 9 additional House Republicans had signed the letter: Reps. John Sweeney

(N.Y.); Jim Ramstad (Minn.); Tom Price (Ga.); Tim Murphy (Pa.); John McHugh (N.Y.); Charles W. Dent (Pa.); Michael Simpson (Ind.); Phil English (Pa.); and John R. "Randy" Kuhl, Jr. (N.Y.).

Senate Appropriations Committee Adds Pandemic Flu Funding to Supplemental

The Senate Committee on Appropriations April 4 adopted by voice vote an amendment to the FY 2006 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill (H.R. 4939), adding $2.3 billion for pandemic flu preparedness. Sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), the amendment includes $300 million for state and local preparedness, $50 million for lab capacity and research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and at least $200 million for surveillance, research, communication, and other activities at CDC.

With the inclusion of other amendments, the total cost of the Senate supplemental is $106.5 billion. The committee approved the Supplemental, 27-1, with Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) objecting to the high price tag. The Administration proposed $92.2 billion in emergency spending for the war and hurricane relief, and the House March 16 passed $91.9 billion in supplemental funding.

Information:
Tannaz Rasouli, Senior Legislative Analyst
AAMC Government Relations
trasouli@aamc.org
(202) 828-0525

National Biosecurity Board Considers Criteria for Detecting "Dual Use"

The National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) March 30 held its third full meeting and reviewed progress of its several working groups on ways investigators, research institutions, and the Federal Government might respond to and oversee "dual use" biological research, i.e. legitimate research that could potentially be misused to harm society.

In a highlight of the meeting, NSABB Chair Dennis Kasper, M.D., of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, presented a working group's draft instrument, or series of questions, that could help investigators and their institutions determine whether a research project has dual use potential. For example, is it "likely" that the research could enhance the pathologic consequences of an agent or toxin, increase transmissibility of an agent, or render immunization less effective? The draft instrument further probes if it is likely that knowledge or products generated by the research could be intentionally misapplied to threaten public health, agriculture, the environment, etc. As envisioned, a positive indication of dual use potential would trigger further review or oversight within the institution.

NSABB also plans to help develop guidelines for further institutional review and oversight. Dr. Kaspar also noted that Institutional Biosafety or other committees as currently configured would also require additional training and support.

Information:
Stephen Heinig, Lead Science Policy Analyst
AAMC Biomedical Health Sciences Research
sheinig@aamc.org
(202) 828-0488

President Signs Higher Ed. Act Extension

The President April 1 signed a 4th extension of the Higher Education Act (HEA). The "Higher Education Extension Act of 2006" (P.L. 109-212, H.R. 4911) extends the reauthorization deadline to June 30. This extension follows the House passage of their HEA reauthorization bill (H.R. 609) March 30 [see Washington Highlights, March 31].

Information:
Matthew Shick, Senior Legislative Analyst
AAMC Government Relations
mshick@aamc.org
(202) 862-6116