bioBUZZ: Action Alert: Support Florida's Biomedical Research Programs

Dear bioOrlando Members:

The Senate and House started the budget conference process this morning. Late Tuesday night, the Senate and House appointed their budget negotiators ("conferees"). Budget conferees will meet over the next 5 days to work out the differences between the two budgets.

NEED YOUR HELP! Biomedical research funding is in danger of being eliminated this year, as legislators attempt to balance the state budget amid an almost $4 billion budget deficit. Click here.

Currently, the House funds the James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program (King) at $1.2 million and eliminates funding for the Bill Bankhead and David Coley Biomedical Research Program (Bankhead-Coley). The Senate funds King at $12.2 million and Bankhead-Coley at $10 million. The Senate also allocates $10 million each to the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, the Shands Cancer Hospital and the Sylvester Cancer Center at the University of Miami.

Florida's Biomedical Research Programs:

• Increase Florida's biomedical and cancer researchers' national funding competitiveness;
• Facilitate collaborations between talented scientists within Florida, nationally and internationally;
• Expand research capacity through the training of new scientists and provision of research instruments; and
• Bolster the Florida's investment to grow its technology-based economy in the biosciences.

Please email the Senate and House Health Care Conferees

Senate Health Care Budget Conferees

Sen. Joe Negron - negron.joe.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Anitere Flores - flores.anitere.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Rene Garcia - garcia.rene.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Jim Norman - norman.jim.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Garrett Richter - richter.garrett.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Eleanor Sobel - sobel.eleanor.web@flsenate.gov

House Health Care Budget Conferees

Rep. Matt Hudson - matt.hudson@myfloridahouse.gov

Rep. Charles "Chuck" Chestnut - charles.chestnut@myfloridahouse.gov

Rep. Richard Corcoran - richard.corcoran@myfloridahouse.gov

Rep. Daniel Davis - daniel.davis@myfloridahouse.gov

Rep. Jose Diaz - jose.diaz@myfloridahouse.gov

Rep. Jim Frishe - jim.frishe@myfloridahouse.gov

Rep. Gayle Harrell - gayle.harrell@myfloridahouse.gov

Rep. Mia Jones - mia.jones@myfloridahouse.gov

Rep. Mark Pafford - mark.pafford@myfloridahouse.gov

Rep. Ken Roberson - ken.roberson@myfloridahouse.gov

Rep. Greg Steube - greg.steube@myfloridahouse.gov

Rep. John Wood - john.wood@myfloridahouse.gov

Rep. Dana Young - dana.young@myfloridahouse.gov

Thank you for helping bioOrlando support Florida's Biomedical Research Programs!