NHLBI News from Capitol Hill
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute sent this bulletin at 10/12/2012 01:45 PM EDTLegislative Information
Appropriations
On June 14, 2012, the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved a bill, S.3295, that would fund the NIH in fiscal year (FY) 2013. The Senate bill includes $30,731,459,000 for the NIH, an increase of $100,000,000. The House Committee on Appropriations has not yet approved its version of a bill to fund the NIH.
The bill report (Senate Report 112-176) mentions numerous diseases, conditions, and other items of interest to the NHLBI, including asthma, basic behavioral research translation, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the Jackson Heart Study, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, Marfan syndrome, pediatric cardiomyopathy, pulmonary fibrosis, scleroderma, sickle cell trait, sleep disorders, stem cell biology, lymphatic research and lymphatic disease, and cystic fibrosis.
NHLBI Acting Director Speaks at Sleep Disorders Congressional Briefing
On May 31, 2012, Dr. Shurin spoke at a congressional briefing highlighting the recent update of the NIH Sleep Disorders Research Plan. She discussed the role of the speakers included Dr. Phyllis Zee, President of the Sleep Research Society, and Dr. David Dinges, Professor, University of Pennsylvania. The briefing was sponsored by the Sleep Research Society in conjunction with Representative Mike Honda (D-CA).
NHLBI Acting Director Discusses Link Between Heart Disease and Kidney Disease
On June 19, 2012, Dr. Shurin spoke at a congressional briefing on kidney disease research. Her remarks focused on the relationship between heart disease and kidney disease. Other speakers included Dr. Griffin Rodgers, Director, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders, Dr. William Schnapper, Northwestern University Fineberg School of Medicine, and Ms. LaVarne Burton, President and CEO of the American Kidney Fund. The briefing was sponsored by the American Society of Nephrology, the American Kidney Fund, and the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology. The Congressional Kidney Caucus was the honorary co-sponsor of the event.