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Fri, 7 Feb 2003 15:38:12 -0500

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My American colleagues:

As you may be aware, Congress is currently contemplating an end to funding
for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) EMS-Trauma
Systems program.  The Senate budget proposal includes $5 million for FY
2003, but the House version zeroes the budget.  Unless progress is made in
the conference committee, state EMS systems across the nation will lose
vital funding.

I've attached a status update below, sent to me by a Maine Senator's health
policy advisor. 

PLEASE take time today to contact your congressional delegation, and urge
support for continued funding of the HRSA EMS-Trauma Systems initiative.
Surely among all of the cash being devoted to Homeland Security, the feds
can spare five million dollars to support our most basic EMS infrastructure.
The former is uniquely dependent on the latter, after all.

I'm advised that in the current climate, the best way to make your voice
heard in Washington is through the staff offices of your congresspersons.
Call and ask who handles health policy issues for your senator or
representative, and urge continued funding for trauma systems.  

Don't bother with paper mail--it's too slow, especially with multiple layers
of bioterror screening.  And although the various congressional websites
offer direct email to your delegation, know that the volume of mail routed
through these servers is staggering.  We need to work the phones, and work
them quickly.

Thanks, all.

Pret Bjorn
Trauma Coordinator
EMMC Trauma Program
489 State Street
Bangor, ME 04401

207.973.7260 (office)
207.973.7673 (fax)
207.941.5085 (voice pager)

-----Original Message-----
From: Rydell, Charlene
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2003 7:55 PM
To: Pret Bjorn (E-mail)
Subject: RE: URGENT: the Maine EMS Trauma System requires your advocacy

...I wanted to give you a quick update on the budget reconciliation process.
The conference committee is still meeting and must come to agreement before
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation bill can go back to each chamber for
passage.  As you know, it's the House that is the problem with respect to
trauma funding.  There is some hope of finishing work next week before the
Presidents' Day recess (which is the entire week of the 17th).  However,
Congress passed another continuing resolution (CR) that goes until February
20th.  The CR means that government agencies are authorized to operate at
last years' spending levels in the interim until the 2003 budget is passed.
Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin is the Democrat on the conference committee for
the House, and we have communicated our strong desire for him to support the
trauma funding. We need the House to agree to the Senate version on this
issue.  I will keep you posted of any developments. 

I hope there will be an opportunity before the next budget is debated for
you to invite the delegation to meet with members of the EMS trauma system.
Next year's budget process will be very difficult as well.

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My American 
colleagues:
As you may be aware, Congress is 
currently contemplating an end to funding for the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) EMS-Trauma Systems program.&nbsp; The Senate budget 
proposal includes $5 million for FY 2003, but the House version zeroes 
the budget.&nbsp;&nbsp;Unless progress is made in the conference committee, 
state EMS systems across the nation will lose vital funding.
I've attached a status update 
below, sent to me by a Maine Senator's health policy advisor. 
PLEASE take time today to contact 
your congressional delegation, and urge support for continued funding of the 
HRSA EMS-Trauma Systems initiative.&nbsp; Surely among all of the cash being 
devoted to Homeland Security, the feds can spare five million dollars to support 
our most basic EMS infrastructure.&nbsp; The former is uniquely dependent on the 
latter, after all.
I'm advised that in the current 
climate, the best way to make your voice heard in Washington is through the 
staff offices of your congresspersons.&nbsp; Call and ask who handles 
health policy issues for your senator or representative, and urge continued 
funding for trauma systems.&nbsp; 
Don't bother with paper 
mail--it's too slow, especially with multiple layers of bioterror 
screening.&nbsp; And although the various congressional websites offer direct 
email to your delegation, know that the volume of mail routed through these 
servers is staggering.&nbsp; We need to work the phones, and work them 
quickly.
Thanks, 
all.
<DIV>
<DIV>Pret 
Bjorn</DIV>
<DIV>Trauma 
Coordinator</DIV>
<DIV>EMMC 
Trauma Program</DIV>
<DIV>489 
State Street</DIV>
<DIV>Bangor, ME 04401</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>207.973.7260 (office)</DIV>
<DIV>207.973.7673 (fax)</DIV>
<DIV>207.941.5085 (voice 
pager)</DIV></DIV>
 -----Original Message----- From: Rydell, Charlene Sent: 
Thursday, February 06, 2003 7:55 PM To: Pret Bjorn (E-mail) Subject: RE: 
URGENT: the Maine EMS Trauma System requires your advocacy ...I 
wanted to give you a quick update on the budget reconciliation process. The 
conference committee is still meeting and must come to agreement before the 
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation bill can go back to each chamber for 
passage.&nbsp; As you know, it's the House that is the problem with respect to 
trauma funding.&nbsp; There is some hope of finishing work next week before the 
Presidents' Day recess (which is the entire week of the 17th).&nbsp; However, 
Congress passed another continuing resolution (CR) that goes until February 
20th.&nbsp; The CR means that government agencies are authorized to operate at 
last years' spending levels in the interim until the 2003 budget is 
passed.&nbsp; Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin is the Democrat on the conference 
committee for the House, and we have communicated our strong desire for him to 
support the trauma funding. We need the House to agree to the Senate version on 
this issue.&nbsp; I will keep you posted of any developments.&nbsp; I 
hope there will be an opportunity before the next budget is debated for you to 
invite the delegation to meet with members of the EMS trauma system. Next year's 
budget process will be very difficult as well. </BODY></HTML>

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