Public Affairs Report

The ASM has established a Distinguished Public Leadership Award, which will be inaugurated in 1999 in honor of the ASM's Centennial. Sponsored by the ASM's Public and Scientific Affairs Board, this prestigious award is being created to recognize an individual who has made outstanding contributions to advance the cause of science through special efforts and leadership in government or in various fields in the private sector. "The ASM is particularly pleased to offer this award because at no other time in history has it been more important to reward public leadership by individuals whose efforts have had a major impact on science, the environment and public health," said Gail Cassell, Chair of ASM's Public and Scientific Affairs Board. Types of candidates for the award could include the President of the United States, the First Lady, the Vice President of the United States, U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, Secretaries of federal agencies, other federal officials, state officials, humanitarians, public spirited citizens and dedicated advocates for science. The President of ASM will name the recipient of the award. A nonmonetary award consisting of a plaque will be presented by the President of ASM at a special ceremony or reception with distinguished guests from Congress, the Administration, the scientific community, and other scientific societies and professional associations in attendance.

On 1 May, Ronald Atlas, Chair of ASM's Committee on Environmental Microbiology, testified on behalf of the ASM before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies on research programs within the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Atlas stated that the ASM strongly supports an appropriation of $3.5 billion for the FY 1998 budget for the NSF, and increase of 7.1% over the FY 1997 appropriation. Additionally, Atlas' testimony expressed the ASM's support for the EPA's Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program and the related Graduate Environmental Fellowship Program while urging Congress to increase the research budget for the Safe Drinking Water Program. However, the ASM remains concerned over the shortage of microbiological science supported by the EPA. The full text of this testimony is available on the ASM's public affairs website.

In early May, the ASM submitted written testimony to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies in support of increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in fiscal year (FY) 1998. To ensure that the FY 1998 funding level for the NIH is sufficient to sustain ongoing research progress and to take advantage of new biomedical research opportunities, the ASM recommended that Congress increase funding for the NIH by 9 percent in FY 1998. The ASM highlighted the need to increase funding for peer reviewed, investigator initiated research project grants and the important programs of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The ASM also addressed the critical need to fund basic, nondisease specific research and research training conducted through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. The full text of the testimony is available on the ASM's public affairs website.

A new educational, advocacy booklet entitled, "New and Reemerging Infectious Diseases: The Role of Research," is now available from the ASM's Public Affairs Office. The booklet provides background information on the problem of infectious diseases and focuses on the critical role of research in responding to a global crisis and immediate threat to the nation's health represented by new and reemerging infectious diseases. "Like the organisms themselves, the challenges of detecting and preventing infectious diseases are constantly evolving" said Dr. Gail Cassell, Chair of the ASM's Public and Scientific Affairs Board, "a strong, stable research and training infrastructure is essential to investigate the mechanisms of molecular pathogenesis, the evolution of pathogenicity, drug resistance and disease transmission." Dr. Cassell headed the project to prepare the booklet which will be used by the ASM to educate and communicate with policy makers and the public about issues related to infectious diseases.

ASM sent a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committee in support of increased funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For Fiscal Year 1998, the ASM recommended Congress appropriate $3 billion for the CDC, including an additional $15 million for new and emerging infectious diseases and $10 million for foodborne diseases. The ASM statement focused on new and emerging infectious diseases due to social and environmental factors such as the increasing numbers of children in day care and development of former woodlands. The numbers of cases of otitis media, giardia and Ehrlichiosis are examples of rising infectious disease cases due to social and environmental factors respectively. The ASM also highlighted the growing evidence linking infectious diseases to chronic diseases. For example, Hepatitis C is now considered the leading cause of chronic liver disease and the leading indicator for liver transplant. The ASM recommended Congress adopt the Administration request for an additional $15 million to expand the CDC Emerging Infections Program from seven to eight sentinel sites and to allow CDC to expand its Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity program which provides states with financial and technical support towards modernizing state public health laboratories. The ASM also recommended Congress adopt the Administration's request for an additional $10 million for food borne disease as part of the Presidential Food Safety Initiative. These additional resources will enable CDC, in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to expand FoodNet, the food borne disease component of the CDC's Emerging Infections Program. FoodNet is an interagency network for responding to new and emerging food borne diseases, monitoring the burden of foodborne diseases, and defining the source of specific foodborne diseases so that proper action and prevention measures can be taken. The full text of the letter is available on the ASM's public affairs website.

On April 25, the ASM in conjunction with 41 other professional scientific organizations sent correspondence to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees opposing the reduction in USDA research funds contained in the House version of the supplemental appropriations bill (H.R. 1469). The bill would most likely reduce funds in the research, extension and education component of the Fund for Rural America by $20 million in order to provide offsets to cover proposed funding increases contained the House supplemental appropriations bill. In the current fiscal year, the Fund for Rural America provides $54 million for rural development projects and $46 million for research, extension and education projects awarded on a competitive basis. For more information, please contact the ASM Office of Public Affairs.

On April 30, the Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) held it third annual science exhibition and reception on Capitol Hill. The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) cosponsored the science exhibition which showcased research supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Over 35 exhibits involving computer demonstrations, videos and hands-on educational materials attracted the attention of congressional and agency guests including NSF Director Neal Lane. CNSF is a coalition of approximately 80 organizations including professional, scientific and engineering societies, higher education associations, institutions of higher learning and independent research institutions actively supportive of the National Science Foundation's research and education programs. The ASM is a member of the CNSF and its steering committee.

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Created: June 2, 1997
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