Congress Embarks on Efforts to Cut the Deficit — Guest Post by WomenHeart

Note: In meetings with the FDA last week, representatives from WomenHeart and StopAfib.org became aware of the risk that potential funding cuts may significantly delay the FDA’s work in reviewing and approving afib drugs and devices. Because of the potential impact on the afib community, we are publishing comments from WomenHeart as to what those who are concerned can do.

The latest proposal for the Fiscal Year 2011 spending bill is being debated. While it is important to reduce the deficit and cut spending, cuts to health funding do more harm than good.

WomenHeart has grave concerns about the impact of these cuts on health programs funded by the NIH, the NHLBI , the FDA and the CDC, to name a few.

For example, funding for the CDC’s Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program, clinical research trials, and FDA’s work for review and approval of drugs and devices to diagnose and treat heart disease is threatened.

Programs could receive cuts as high as 20 percent of their budget for the remainder of this fiscal year, or be eliminated altogether. In addition, what happens with the FY 2011 bill will set the stage for future budget debates.

Members of Congress need to hear that cuts in health funding do more harm than good.

Contact your elected officials now to communicate the value of research and public health funding to you, your family, your community, and our nation!

• Call your elected officials in their local and Washington offices, (visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov)
• Stop by your elected officials’ district offices or scheduled Town Hall meetings during the week of February 21 – February 25.
• Send personalized e-mails directly to congressional staff.
• Join your Member of Congress’ newsletter list to learn of additional opportunities to have your voice heard, such as tele-town hall meetings.

The Message

• I understand the challenge you face in reducing the deficit and balancing the budget. I share your concern. However, cuts to health funding do more harm than good.
• As a woman with heart disease [applies to men, too], I fear that cuts in research funding will limit our ability to discover cures for heart disease, will eliminate jobs, and will jeopardize American innovation and competitiveness.
• Federal health programs ensure that the food we eat, the water we drink, the drugs we take, and the air we breathe is safe; and that we’re prepared and protected in the event of a pandemic or other health threat.
• Cuts in health workforce training will jeopardize programs that prepare doctors, nurses, dentists, and other providers to care for patients. With fewer providers, seniors, children, and other Americans will wait longer for the care they need, and will probably get sicker while they wait.

CUTS TO HEALTH PROGRAMS DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD!

Questions? Please contact Susan Campbell at WomenHeart, 202.728.7199