Show me the money What is behind the funding process for NIH research

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Show me the money!What is behind the funding
process for NIH research?

Brent Jaquet Cavarocchi-Ruscio-Dennis Associates
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Show me the money!What is behind the funding
process for NIH research?
Welcome to Washington !!
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Why Am I Here?

• Learn when to get involvedand how
• What can you do on your own?
• Gain a better understanding of the legislative
  process

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Edmund Burke

• The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil
  is for good people to do nothing.

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Henry Clay

• Government is a trust, and the officers of the
  government are trustees both are created for the
  benefit of the people

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Brents grandmother

• You dont ask,
• you dont get !
• 
  

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Hows Congress Organized?

• Leadership
• Personal offices
• Committees Authorization or Appropriations

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Appropriations vs. Authorization bills

• Authorization bills create programs, define scope
  and key components, multi-year, time limited, and
  recommend funding levels
• Appropriations bills set actual funding levels,
  one year at a time

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How a Bill Becomes Law

COMMITTEE ACTION
ENACTMENT INTO LAW
INTRODUCTION
FLOOR ACTION
Bill introduced in House
Referred to House committee, which holds
hearings and recommends passage
House debates and passes
House and Senate approve compromise
House and Senate Members confer, reach
compromise on all differences between the two
versions
Legislation often begins as similar proposals in
both houses
President signs into law or vetoes
Referred to Senate committee, which hold
hearings and recommends passage
Bill introduced in Senate
All bills must be approved by the House and
Senate In identical form before they can be sent
to the president
Senate debates and passes
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The Appropriations Cycle

• President submits budget plan (early February)
• Budget committees develop spending limits
  Appropriations committee hold hearings (March -
  May)
• Congress adopts overall spending plan (May 15)
• Appropriations committees begin mark-up (May)

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The Appropriations Cycle

• House and Senate begin to vote on appropriations
  bills (June - July)
• House-Senate conference committee resolves
  differences (September October, or November,
  December?)
• House and Senate ratify compromise (by October,
  or whenever)
• Bills sent to President for approval

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5 Ws and an HHow to be your own lobbyist

• Who?
• What?
• When?
• Where?
• How?
• Why?

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Why Lobby the Federal Government?

• To promote the interests of patients, families
  general public
• Enable individuals to do together what they cant
  do as effectively alone
• Because its where the are!!!

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Whoto lobby?

• Members of Congress, start with yours
• Key staff in Members personal office
• Appropriations Committee
• Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, Members
  and staff

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Key Appropriations Subcommittees

• Provide funds, wield some latitude over policy
• House Labor, HHS Education (Regula/Obey)
• Senate Labor, HHS Education (Specter/Harkin)

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Whatcan you ask for?

• Meetings with Members, personal office
  committee staffhelp/advice/support
• Support for legislation
• Appropriations Report language
• Opportunities to testify
• Letters to the agency
• Support for joining an agency committee
• District visits to your programs
• for relevant agencies
• Earmarksin some cases

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Report Language or ...

• Appropriations Committee forms
• House and Senate have different forms and
  deadlines
• Online submittal, varies by office

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Written testimony

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When?

• Meetings before the bill is marked! Feb.,
  March, April best time
• Appropriations Testimony oral in March/April--
  written testimony also
• Visits back home look at recess schedule,
  Mondays or Fridays
• Report language or -- Member Committee
  deadlines usually mid-March

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Whereto lobby?

• Members DC office
• Members office back home
• In letters, on the phone
• Site visit to your program

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Howto set up a meeting?

• Research to find the right staffercall office,
  look in Congressional Yellow Book (libraries),
  ask others etc.
• Write a brief request letter on who you are, who
  you represent, what you will discuss, then FAX
  it, phone follow up

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Howto handle the meeting?

• Confirm and be respectful of your time allotment
• Present your 3 or 4 main pointsdont go off
  message
• Dont forget your ASK !!
• Stop talking if you get a Yes!!
• Bring a leave behind fact sheet that has your
  request or language detailed

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Howto handle the meeting?

• Turn off you cell phone before the meeting
• Dont forget to thank them
• Follow up
• Grassroots follow up

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Howto handle the meeting?

• Be truthful
• Respectful
• Reasonable
• Informed
• Credible
• Again, dont forget your ASK !!

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Fundraising

• Consider donating or time
• Support candidates who share your priorities

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Sources of information

• http//thomas.loc.gov/
• http//www.house.gov/
• http//senate.gov/
• http//www.rules.house.gov/
• http//appropriations.house.gov/
• http//appropriations.senate.gov/
• www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
• LibrariesCongressional Yellow book
• Capitol Advantage guide
• Coalitions
• NORD

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Show me the money!What is behind the funding
process for NIH research?

• The stakes are too high for government to be a
  spectator sport.
  -- Former Rep. Barbara Jordan

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Show me the money!What is behind the funding
process for NIH research?

Brent Jaquet Cavarocchi-Ruscio-Dennis Associates