10:30 a.m. welcoming remarks - alan leshner, phd new congress, new administration: new possibilities...

10:30 a.m.

Welcoming Remarks - Alan Leshner, PhD

New Congress, New Administration: New Possibilities The Honorable John E. Porter

Partner Thanks - Mary Woolley

Your Candidates–Your Health 2008 ReportStacie Propst, PhD

Communicating with the New CongressBart Moore of the National Journal

Partner Comments and Q & A

Closing remarks - Mary Woolley

Alan I. Leshner, PhDAAAS CEO

The Honorable John Edward PorterResearch!America Chair

Mary WoolleyResearch!America President & CEO

“Science Debate 2008 and Your Candidates-Your Health partnered in this historic election to position science as an essential tool in solving the nation’s most difficult problems. Now our community must follow through to ensure that President-elect Obama and the 111th Congress know how critical it is to grow our investment in science and use sound science to inform policymaking.”

Shawn Otto, Science Debate 2008

Stacie Propst, PhDResearch!America Vice President,

Science Policy & Outreach

“I strongly support increasing funding for the NIH. Even though biomedical research costs are increasing each year, annual funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has not kept up. This isn't just counter-productive, it is a failure to keep faith with so many Americans who are in the fight of their lives against cancer and other diseases, and it overlooks our country's tradition of medical innovation.”

President-elect Barack Obama

“I support doubling federal funding for basic research in the physical sciences and engineering research. Federally‐supported basic research generates the innovation to create markets and drive economic growth but federal investment, as a share of GDP, has dropped by half since 1970.”

“I want to make the Research and Development tax credit permanent so that firms can rely on it when making decisions to invest in domestic R&D over multi‐year timeframes.”

President-elect Barack Obama

Policy Discussions

Innovation and the Elections: Presidential Perspectives on Health

September 18, 2008

Presidential Economic & Health Policy Discussion

October 14, 2008

Media Attention Reaching approximately 111 million Americans

Online Impact

• Blog outreach in all 50 states

• 3.8 times as many pages viewed compared to 2006

• Daily visitors increased 800% from the conventions to the election

• 6.5 times 2006 visitors

Congressional Responses

“Now is not the time to rest. Congress should build on its investments in medical research by providing an 8-10 percent increase in funding for NIH, which will allow the Institutes to keep up with inflation and build on existing research. Our continued investment in medical research is critical to the sustainability of our health care infrastructure.”

Senator-elect Mark Udall, Colorado

“We must invest more in our public health infrastructure to meet the current and future health care needs of the American people. I support funding increases for agencies working to improve health promotion, disease prevention and preparedness, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”

Representative David Price, 4th District, North Carolina

111th Congress on the Record

187 Members of the 111th Congress have completed one or

more of our initiatives.

GoalEvery member of Congress will feel

compelled to declare a position on issues related

to health, science and research.

Bart Moore

“Where our elected representatives stand on issues relating to health and medical research is important information for every American voter. Your Candidates-Your Health is a unique and valuable resource that can help voters make informed choices on these issues, which touch all our lives.”

Darrell G. Kirch, MD, President and CEO, Association of American Medical Colleges

“MDA has advocates in all 435 congressional districts and as a partner on Your Candidates-Your Health, we were able to empower them with critical information about their candidates. Working with Research!America, those who most need the solutions that research offers can expand their voices and have a greater impact together.”

Annie Kennedy, Vice President for Advocacy

“No issue is as central to the expression of a democratic civilization than the preservation and advancement of the health of all its people. Citizens expect and deserve to know how candidates think about medical research and its translation into health enhancement and clinical care delivery.”

Reed Tuckson, MD, Member of the Board, United Health Foundation

“We need political leaders who are committed to improving and protecting the public's health. Not sure how improving the nation's health ranks with your elected officials? Ask them today.”

Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (Emeritus), Executive Director, American Public Health Association

www.yourcongressyourhealth.org

MakeYour Congress–

Your Health

Your Priority