Your Congress. Your Health.
Where Does Congress Stand
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All members of Congress have been invited to answer the following 18 questions about health and research:

Congressional responses may be faxed to our office at: 703-739-2372

1. How important is each of the following to job creation and the U.S. economy?

Reducing the federal deficit
•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion

Providing tax cuts
•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion

Investing in education
•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion

Investing in health research
•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion

Investing in energy research
•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion

Supporting small businesses
•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________
 
2. Considering the current economic situation, which statement comes closest to your view:

•    Across-the-board spending cuts are necessary to reduce the federal budget deficit and improve the health of the U.S. economy.
•    Some spending cuts are necessary but the U.S. must invest strategically to improve the health of the economy.
•    Spending cuts are not a priority now, as our economy recovers from the recession.
•    Don’t know        
•    No opinion

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

3. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? "The U.S. is in danger of losing its global competitive edge in science, technology and innovation." If you agree, what approach would you take to change this trend?

•    Agree
•    Disagree
•    Don’t know
•    No opinion

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

4. How important do you think education and training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is to U.S. competitiveness and our future economic prosperity? 

•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion
 
Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

5. How important is research and development (R&D) to your state’s economy? Please comment on the importance of the federal government’s role in supporting R&D conducted in your state and specific plans that will affect your district/state’s investment in research.

•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

6. Do you support or oppose tax and regulatory incentives for industries investing in and conducting research and development to improve health?

•    Support
•    Oppose
•    Don’t know
•    No opinion
 
Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

7. How important is it that the federal research and development tax credit is made permanent?

•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

8. When it comes to rising health care costs, would you say research to improve health is part of the problem or part of the solution?
 
•    Part of the problem
•    Part of the solution
•    Don’t know
•    No opinion

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

9. How much of a priority is it to accelerate our nation’s investment in research to improve health?

•    A top priority
•    High priority
•    Somewhat of a priority
•    Low priority
•    Not a priority at all
•    Don’t know
•    No opinion

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

10. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “Even if it brings no immediate benefits, basic scientific research that advances the frontiers of knowledge is necessary and should be supported by the federal government.” 

•    Agree
•    Disagree
•    Don’t know
•    No opinion

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

11. The following federal agencies play a role in improving the health of Americans through research and development. How important is it to increase funding for…

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion

Food and Drug Administration
•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion

National Institutes of Health
•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion

National Science Foundation
•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

12. Regulatory science is a field that develops new tools, standards and approaches to assess the safety, effectiveness, quality and performance of all FDA-regulated products. How important would you say it is that the U.S. invest in advancing regulatory science to make the drug and device development process more efficient and safer for businesses and patients? 

•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion


Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

13. How important would you say it is that the U.S. work to improve health globally through research and development? Please comment on what role the federal government and other stakeholders (non profits, foundations) should play in global health R&D. 
 
•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

14. Comparative effectiveness research (CER) is meant to compare ways to prevent, diagnose, treat and monitor health conditions in order to match the right treatment to the right patient at the right time. Some feel CER will limit health care options to only the most affordable treatments. Others feel CER will reveal which treatments are best for patients regardless of cost. Which is closest to your own view?
 
•    Comparative effectiveness research should be used to limit health care to the most affordable treatments.
•    Comparative effectiveness research should be used to inform patients and doctors about the most effective treatments, regardless of cost.
•    Don’t know
•    No opinion

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

15. How important is it that the federal government plays a role in research to promote prevention and wellness? 

•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

16. Would you say government investment in health research for the benefit of military veterans and service members is…

•    Too much
•    About right
•    Not enough
•    Don’t know
•    No opinion

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

17. Certain health issues are more prevalent among people with lower incomes and among certain racial and ethnic populations. How important do you feel it is for the federal government to support research to understand and eliminate these differences and achieve health equity?

•    Very important
•    Somewhat important
•    Not too important
•    Not at all important
•    Don’t know   
•    No opinion

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

18. Do you support or oppose expanding federal funding for research using embryonic stem cells?
 
•    Support
•    Oppose
•    Don’t know
•    No opinion

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________