The House and Senate Conferees met on Wednesday, February 11 to come to an agreement on differences between the House- and Senate-passed versions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The compromise, if passed by the House and Senate, includes $8.5 billion for National Institutes of Health research and $1.5 billion for facility construction and repair.  The $10 billion was included in the package passed by the Senate earlier this week, and was a result of an amendment offered by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) to add $6.5 billion to the $3.5 billion already in the package.  The House version included $3.5 billion for NIH research and facilities.  The House is expected to vote on the compromise this week and the Senate will likely vote this weekend in order to send the bill to President Obama by the President's Day holiday.

The Society was active in representing the interests of its scientists on Capitol Hill throughout the process.  Society alerts generated hundreds of letters to House and Senate members, reaching many key supporters.  The Society also sent a letter, which may be viewed on the Society's website under the Advocacy section, to all Senators supporting an amendment offered by Senator Specter.  The amendment, which was later replaced by the amendment offered by Senator Harkin, added $6.5 billion to the economic recovery package for NIH.  As the package was being debated in the Senate, Society staff was in frequent contact with the offices of key Senators involved in the negotiations to advocate for the inclusion of the full $10 billion for NIH.