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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.medlib-l
Date:         Tue, 21 Jul 1992 17:55:47 CDT
From:         "CORCORAN, Katie" <CORCORAN@LIFE.JSC.NASA.GOV>
Subject:      MLA/AAHSLD ISSUE LEGISLATIVE ALERT RE. NIH REATHORIZATION
X-To:         medlib-l@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu

MLA/AAHSLD ISSUE ALERT FOR NIH REAUTHORIZATION - 7/21/92

The following action alert has been mailed to the MLA Governmental Relations
Committee, including chapter and section liaisons, and to the MLA/AAHSLD
Legislative Task Force.  ALL MEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION MEMBERS ARE
ENCOURAGED TO TAKE ACTION.

On June 23, President Bush vetoed H.R. 2507, the bill to reauthorize
programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including the National
Library of Medicine (NLM).  Despite bipartisan support for the measure,
the House of Representatives fell 15 votes short of the 2/3 majority
necessary to override the veto.  In response, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) has
introduced new legislation to reauthorize programs at NIH.

This new bill, H.R. 5495 (and its identical Senate companion S. 2899),
contains several modifications made in an effort to accomodate the
President's objections.  All of the provisions previously lobbied for by
MLA and AAHSLD are included in the new bill, including provisions that:

*  Maintain the distinct authority of the Medical Library Assistance Act (MLAA).
   MLA and AAHSLD believe it is critical that the MLAA retain its separate and
 distinct
authority in order to determine how allocated funds are spent in communities to
benefit health professionals.

*  Increase the existing $750,000 cap on grants for establishing, expanding,
and improving the basic resources of medical libraries, to $1,000,000. MLA
and AAHSLD believe this will allow greater flexibility in distributing
existing NLM resources.

In order to assure strong bipartisan support in the House and prevent another
presidential veto, MLA and AAHSLD urge you to contact your representatives
and President Bush and encourage them to support the newly introduced
NIH Reauthorization bill H.R. 5495.  MLA headquarters has a copy of the
roll call of the vote to override the President's veto of the initial bill;
contact MLA HQ 312/419-9094 (or via e-mail with your rep's name to
CORCORAN@LIFE.JSC.NASA.GOV) to see how your representative voted.

Action:  If your rep. voted YES (to override the veto), please contact them
and thank them, and urge their continued support of the new bill H.R. 5495.
If your rep. voted NO (supported the President's veto), it is especially
important to contact them.

Remember, you do not need to be an "expert" to contact your rep. OR
President Bush!  It is helpful if you include your own thoughts and express
why this legislation is important to YOU.  MLA and AAHSLD feel that it is
very important that NLM programs are renewed, so you as medical librarians
can continue to provide up-to-date medical information to the health care
community.

Note: Since the Senate voted 87-10 in favor of the original bill, it is
not necessary to contact your senators on this issue.

Please address letters/telephone calls re. this issue to:

Rep. __________________ (your rep's name)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC  20515
202/225-3121 (ask for your rep's office)

AND

President George Bush
The White House
Washington, DC  20500
202/426-1111 (White House comment line)

Thank you for your assistance in this matter!  Please feel free to contact
MLA headquarters if you have questions.

Medical Library Association
Suite 300
Six N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60602
312/419-9094
FAX: 312/419-8950
e-mail (this issue) CORCORAN@LIFE.JSC.NASA.GOV
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU