Increase for FDA in House Appropriations Subcommittee Mark Up
The House Agriculture/FDA Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its fiscal year (FY) 2011 bill on June 30 and included $2.571 billion for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is an increase of $214 million above FY 2010 and $55 million above the President's budget request for the agency. The President's number reflected about a 6.5% increase over FY 2010. The House subcommittee mark is about 9%.

The House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee is expected to mark up the FY 2011 LHHS Appropriations bill on July 15th. The LHHS Appropriations bill includes funding for important myeloma programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More information on these programs will be included in the next edition of the Myeloma Advocacy Update.

Does Your Representative Support Blood Cancer Awareness Month?
H. Res. 1433 recognizes September 2010 as Blood Cancer Awareness Month. This resolution highlights the impact blood cancers have in the United States each year and encourages greater support for blood cancer research and education.

We need to secure 100 cosponsors before this bill will be considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Currently H. Res. 1433 has 24 cosponsors and we need your help to secure 76 more supporters. Your letters and e-mails are working, please keep them coming into your House members! Please visit the Advocacy Action Center at www.advocacy.myeloma.org to write your U.S. Representative and urge him or her to support Blood Cancer Awareness Month by co-sponsoring H. Res. 1433.

Are You a Member of the Myeloma Action Network?
Want to stay informed about IMF's advocacy activities? All you need to do is to join the Myeloma Action Network at www.advocacy.myeloma.org and you will automatically receive e-mail advocacy alerts from the IMF. To learn more about health care reform and other important advocacy issues that impact the myeloma community, please visit the IMF advocacy page at www.myeloma.org.