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September 28, 2000 The Honorable Kit Bond Dear Chairman Bond: I am writing to urge you to support the House recommendation of $351 million for health research in any final Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill. Funding below this level could erode the VA's ability to carry out important research impacting health conditions of veterans. The Coalition for Health Services Research is also concerned about the decline, in recent years, of investigator-initiated research, making it difficult to attract proposals from our distinguished field of health services researchers. This decline is directly attributable to a lack of adequate funding for the program. The VA and VA researchers are known throughout the world for their leadership in health research. In particular, the Health Services Research and Development Service (HRS&D) program maintains a standard of excellence in developing state-of-the-art decision making tools. Foremost in HSR&D's portfolio is the Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI), a program unique not only in design, but also in its ability to rapidly translate research discoveries and innovations into improved patient care. Current study areas include heart disease, diabetes, congestive heart failure, stroke, spinal cord injury, substance, abuse, HIV/AIDS, mental health, colon cancer, and prostate disease. Taking advantage of the VA's networked system of care, more than 135 QUERI projects have been completed in just the two years since the program's initiation. As you consider FY2001 VA funding, please consider the valuable contributions of the HSR&D program and support the House mark of $351 million for VA health research funding. Sincerely,
W. David Helms |
