CONTACTING YOUR LEGISLATORS

Through the efforts of many of our colleagues, the FY 1997 appropriations bill included $12.747 billion for NIH; a 6.9 percent increase over FY 1996. NSF fared somewhat less well, with a total of 3.27 billion for FY 1997, a 2 percent increase over FY 1996. Our continued ability to do conduct behavioral neuroscience research depends on federal support. For this reason it is important to stay in touch with Congress. Nothing is more effective than personal contact. This can be accomplished in several ways.

1. Visit your representatives in Congress (House or Senate) when you are in Washington. Small informal delegations also can be effective. Invite local representatives to visit your laboratory when they are in the area. Tell them about what you do. Mention important breakthroughs in science that have been funded through federal support. Discuss research that needs to be done and emphasize the importance of basic research, especially in the behavioral sciences. Emphasize the importance to both science and our economy of training young scientists.

2. Write "thank you" letters to your congressional representatives when you receive a grant, or on any occasion when they support bills with which you agree.

3. Stay aware of what is happening and contact your congressperson when bills are pending. The Society for Neuroscience Rapid Response Network (rrn@sfn.org) provides updated information for members, including legislative information. Additional information is available on the SFN Home Page http://www.sfn.org.

4. How to contact members of Congress. If you wish to email members of Congress, you can access their address at http://www.senate.gov or http://www.house.gov.

5. Regarding writing to NIH. You can send letters to individual committee members, and also to the Chairs of relevant committees. John Edward Porter (R-Ill) is Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies, 2358 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515. Letters can be addressed to members of the House subcommittee as follows: The Honorable (name) United States House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515. Arlen Specter (R-Pa) is Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies, SD-184 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510. Letters to members of the Senate subcommittee should be addressed as follows: The Honorable (name) United States Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510.

C. Sue Carter
Scarter@psych.uic.edu
Chairperson, IBNS Public Relations Committee