Home Issues & Advocacy Washington Watch Legislative Update 7-6-2007

ACRL Legislative Update

Volume 6, Number 4
July 6, 2007

NIH Public Access Policy to be Considered by full House Appropriations

Current Status: The House Committee on Appropriations will consider the fiscal year (FY) 2008 Labor-Health and Human Services (HHS)-Education appropriations bill on July 11. The House subcommittee on Labor, HHS appropriations included language that would require, for National Institutes of Health (NIH) investigators, that "final peer-reviewed manuscript upon acceptance be made publicly available no later than 12 months after the official date of publication." We want to ensure that language stays in the bill when the full house committee reviews it. The Senate Appropriations Committee passed the FY 2008 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill with this language in late June. For additional background on the issues around the NIH public access policy, see ACRL Legislative Update vol. 6, no. 3 and the Alliance for Taxpayer Access website.

Action Needed: If you have a Representative on the House Appropriations Committee, please call, e-mail or send a fax before end of day on Tuesday, July 10th. Ask your Representative to support the inclusion of language that would make the NIH public access policy mandatory. This is especially important as the Association of American Publishers sent a letter June 25 asking members of the Committee to eliminate and/or change this language. We need your Representatives to hear the other side of the story.

Talking Points:

• Support language in the FY08 Appropriations Bill to require mandatory public access to NIH-funded research no later than 12 months following publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
• Oppose any amendment/attempt to strike or change language emerging from the Labor/HHS Subcommittee - particularly calls to make the policy voluntary.
• Mandatory public access to taxpayer-funded research at the NIH has the full support of the NIH Director, as well as broad bipartisan support in Congress.
• Mandatory public access is needed to speed the pace of discovery by expanding access to research findings for scientists and patient advocates - something the voluntary policy has failed to do.
• Mandatory public access also significantly improves NIH's accountability both internally and with Congress by making it much simpler to track NIH investments and corresponding results.
• The NIH's current voluntary policy has failed to achieve any of the policy's stated goals over the more than two years since its implementation. A mandate is required to ensure compliance and the success of public access at the NIH.

Targeted Legislators: This is a large committee with over 60 members. Find a full list with links to contact information on the Committee's website.

TIPS: Communicating with Your Legislators

E-MAIL AND FAX: Written correspondence is a simple and powerful way to let a legislator know how you feel. Legislators pay attention because each piece of written correspondence represents a vote. And each letter is deemed to represent several like-minded citizens. Follow these tips when sending an e-mail or fax:

• Put your name and street address, city, state and zip code at the top of your message.
• Be sure to identify yourself as a constituent.
• Write from your own experience. Personalizing your message is key. Over half of Congressional staffers believe the form e-mails they receive from constituents are sent without the constituents' knowledge.
• Limit yourself to two or three paragraphs—no more than a page.
• Make your view known in the subject line (e.g., "Support NIH public access policy in appropriations bill") and do not expect a response. Staff may check only the subject lines to gauge public opinion on particularly hot issues.
• Avoid attachments, which are rarely read.
• Use e-mail sparingly to avoid being considered "spam."
• Proof carefully, especially when writing in haste. Mistakes may cost you credibility.

TELEPHONE CALLS: Telephone calls are appropriate and easy, especially if there is a vote pending. When should you call? Call to ask support before a hearing or floor vote, to ask for help with legislative colleagues or to convey urgent concerns. Use these pointers when planning your call:

• Write down your key points in advance.
• Start by identifying yourself and where you live and state why you are calling.
• Be brief and express thanks.
• Write down when you called, whom you spoke with and the outcome of the call for follow-up and a thank you note.
• Encourage others to call.

(SOURCE: ALA Library Advocacy Now toolkit. Ways to communicate.)

 This digital update is regularly issued as part of our ongoing efforts to make it easier for you to connect with ACRL’s advocacy efforts. Feel free to forward this message to appropriate electronic lists.

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