ARVO Researchers Emphasize Amount and Timeliness of NIH/NEI Appropriations in Advocacy Day
As in past years, the timing of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmologys (ARVO) January Program Committee meeting enabled an Advocacy Day of nearly 30 visits by researchers early in the legislative session — one of the first conducted by any organization with the 110th Congress. Several researchers were from key states/districts with new Members of Congress, while others met with Members who had recently assumed key leadership positions. For example, ARVO Executive Vice President Dr. Paul Kaufman met with the offices of Cong. David Obey (D-WI), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee/LHHS Subcommittee, and Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI), Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging. The researchers had a two-part message — Congress should increase NIH/NEI funding in the FY2007 and 2008 cycles and complete the appropriations process on a timely basis so that research is not jeopardized by delays in grant awards.
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Participants included: Dr. Carol Toris (University of Nebraska Medical Center); Dr. Erik van Kuijk (University of Texas Medical Branch/Galveston); Dr. Jody Summers Rada (University of Oklahoma Health Science Center); Dr. Paul Kaufman (University of Wisconsin at Madison); ARVO Executive Director Joanne Angle; Dr. Valerie White (Vancouver General Hospital); Dr. Ron Adelman (Yale University School of Medicine); and Dr. Claude Burgoyne (Devers Eye Institute). Not pictured: Dr. Linda McLoon (University of Minnesota). |
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Dr. Burgoyne (left) and Dr. Kaufman (right) meet with newly elected Cong. Steve Kagen, M.D., (D-WI), who previously served as an Assistant Professor of Allergy/Immunology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. |
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Legislative Director Norman Singleton (left) and Dr. van Kuijk (right) in the office of Cong. Ron Paul, M.D., (R-TX), a former Air Force flight surgeon. Currently residing in Texas but with a strong Montana background, Dr. van Kuijk visited the Senatorial offices of both states. |
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Dr. McLoon (center) meets with Legislative Assistants Nina Schwartz (left) and Emily Lawrence (right) in the office of Cong. Betty McCollum (D-MN), who was recently named a member of the House LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee. |
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International ARVO member Dr. White (left) accompanied ARVOs Joanne Angle in visits to the Virginia and Maryland delegation, including Legislative Director Priscilla Ross in the office of Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD). |
