April 24, 2006
- Congressional schedule
- Fiscal Year 2007 Budget
- Fiscal Year 2007 Appropriations
- Recommended Appropriations for Cancer Programs
Congressional schedule
Congress is back in session the week of April 24, 2006. The next recess is the week of Memorial Day (May 29-June 2).
Fiscal Year 2007 Budget
THE SENATE:
On March 16, the Senate approved a $2.8 trillion FY'07 budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 83), by a vote of 51-49. Five Republican senators opposed the resolution: Lincoln Chafee (RI), Norm Coleman (MN) Susan Collins (ME), Mike DeWine (OH), and John Ensign (NV). Senator Mary Landrieu (LA) was the sole Democrat who voted in favor.
As part of this resolution, the Senate voted 73-47 to include the Specter (R-PA)- Harkin (D-IA) Amendment, which provides $7 billion in discretionary funding for health, social services, education, training, and low-income programs. The Senate defeated the Cornyn (R-TX) Amendment, by a vote of 43-57, which would have directed the Finance Committee to cut $10 billion from Medicare.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
The House was unable to bring its Budget Committee’s resolution (H. Con. Res. 376) to the floor for vote before leaving for recess on April 7. The Budget Committee had approved a resolution that includes a $6.8 billion spending reduction to mandatory programs over a five-year period, but does not specify that the cuts come from Medicaid or Medicare. Unlike the Senate, the House resolution does not include additional funds for discretionary spending. House leaders stated they will try again when they reconvene.
Fiscal Year 2007 Appropriations
The appropriations committees are responsible for writing the bills for discretionary spending. The House appropriations committees will proceed regardless of whether a budget resolution is passed or not, setting the stage for more budget battles within the House and between the House and Senate.
Recommended Appropriations for Cancer Programs
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum is a member of One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC), a collaboration of organizations representing millions of Americans affected by cancer. OVAC combines our resources and efforts to urge the Administration and Congress to make funding for cancer programs a priority in fiscal year (FY) 2007.
OVAC is concerned that without increased funding for the key federal agencies involved in cancer research, education, prevention, awareness, treatment, and control, the nation will fail to make the gains necessary to approach the goal of eliminating suffering and death due to cancer by 2015. For FY 2007, OVAC will urge the Administration and Congress to support the following funding recommendations.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
$29.75 billion (+$1.42 billion/5% over FY 2006)
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Support the NCI Professional Judgment budget of $5.8 billion, but at a minimum, provide $5.03 billion (+$240 million/5% over FY 2006)a “do-no-harm” level of funding necessary to maintain the current pace of progress.
National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD)
$200 million (+$4.6 million/2.35% over FY 2006)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (CDC)
$427.5 million (+$119.59 million/ 38.84% over FY 2006)
- National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program: $50 million (+$33.06 million)
- National Program of Cancer Registries: $65 million (+$16.89 million)
- National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program: $250 million (+$47.57 million)
- Colorectal Cancer Screening, Education & Outreach Initiative : $25 million (+$10.52 million)
- National Skin Cancer Prevention Education Program: $5 million over five years
- Prostate Cancer Control Initiatives: $20 million (+6.07 million)
- Ovarian Cancer Control Initiatives: $7.5 million (+$2.98 million)
- Geraldine Ferraro Blood Cancer Program: $5 million (+$0.46 million)
Health Resources and Services Administration, Nursing Workforce Programs
$175 million (+$25.32 million/16.92% over FY 2006)
