Friends is currently looking for dates and venues in Washington, DC for Ohio physician Dr. Ken Moss to share his personal and professional story about the dramatic loss of his wife and daughter from cancer with key policymakers and opinion leaders. Although Friends was not selected to testify before the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, we plan to move forward on scheduling a lobbying day for Dr. Moss. His story would provide both the realities of dealing with cancer in one’s own family and the struggle of a physician to find a cure. In connection with his visit to Washington, DC, Friends plans to seek meetings with one or more high-level Administration officials, as well as pursue media opportunities with print and broadcast outlets.

The Congress returns next week from a two-week district work period to tackle the Bush Administration’s homeland security supplemental request. The House is expected to move quickly on the request -- we are hearing late April/early May timeframe -- and resume its work on the annual appropriations bills. The White House is hoping for swift action from the Senate once the supplemental is passed out of the House.

In previous years, the Defense and Labor-HHS bills have been two of the last appropriations bills considered. This year, there is pressure from the White House to move the Defense bill early in the process. With regard to the Labor-HHS bill, Chairman Ralph Regula (R-OH) will kick-off six half-day hearings beginning Tuesday, April 23, and ending in mid-May. In the coming weeks, we will seek his continued strong support for the doubling effort of the NIH budget.