Statements and Testimony - 2000

• November 9, 2000 - Microbial Genome Sequencing Analysis and Annotation
  The ASM submitted recommendations on several highly focused, microbial genomic sequence annotation-related issues to the Microbe Project, a federal Interagency Working Group under the aegis of the National Science and Technology Council, Office of Science and Technology Policy.

• November 17, 2000 - Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Funding Delays
  The ASM sent a letter to the House and Senate leadership urging the 106th Congress to act as quickly as possible to finalize the FY 2001 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education funding bill.

• November 3, 2000 - Proposed Changes to the Animal Welfare Act
  The ASM submitted comments to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on a proposed rule to clarify the definitions of the pain and distress of animals used in research, testing, and teaching. The proposed changes would take effect under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

• September 21, 2000 - Department of Agriculture Research Appropriations
  The ASM sent letters to members of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry urging higher levels of funding for agricultural research.

• September 6, 2000 - Department of Energy Appropriations
  The ASM sent letters to members of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Water and Energy urging them to fund the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science at the level of $3.1 billion. The letter includes a fact sheet highlighting the DOE's contributions to basic science.

• August 15, 2000 - CLIA Waived Tests
  The ASM provided comments to the Food and Drug Administration, which is in the process of reviewing the criteria used to determine whether specific laboratory tests are waived from certain requirements under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA).

• August 9, 2000 - National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Ground Water
  The ASM submitted comments on the proposed rule National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Ground Water rule, under the direction of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA is proposing to require a targeted risk-based regulatory strategy for all ground water systems. The proposed requirements provide a meaningful opportunity to reduce public health risk associated with the consumption of waterborne pathogens.

• August 1, 2000 - Draft Public Health Action Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance
  The ASM submitted comments to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the Action Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance.

• August 7, 2000 - Fumonisin Levels in Human Foods and Animal Feeds
  The ASM submitted written comment on the proposed Guidance for Industry: Fumonisin Levels in Human Foods and Animal Feeds, under the direction of the Food and Drug Administration.

• July 26, 2000 - Laboratory Test Medicare Co-payments
  The ASM sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee members to oppose efforts to include laboratory test co-payments for patients who receive Medicare benefits.

• July 17, 2000 - Genetically Modified Organisms
  The American Society for Microbiology released a statement on genetically modified organisms.

• July 14, 2000 - National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Funding for FY 2001
  The ASM sent a letter to members of the House and Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittees on Appropriations regarding FY 2001 funding levels for NIH and CDC.

• July 14, 2000 - National Science Foundation Funding for FY 2001
  The ASM sent a letter to members of the Senate VA/HUD/Independent Agencies Subcommittee on Appropriations regarding FY 2001 funding for the NSF.

• June 7, 2000 - National Organic Program
  The ASM submitted written comment on the proposed rule to establish the National Organic Program, under the direction of the Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

• June 5, 2000 - Microbiology Devices; Reclassification of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Devices
  The ASM submitted written comment on the recommendation of the FDA's Microbiology Devices Panel to reclassify fully automated short-term incubation cycle antimicrobial susceptibility devices from class III to class II.

• April 10, 2000 - Promoting Research Integrity at the American Society for Microbiology
  Julius Youngner, Chair of the ASM's Public and Scientific Affairs Board's Committee on Ethics, presented remarks at a conference convened by the Office of Research and Integrity in the Department of Health and Human Services and the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS) on the "Role and Activities of Scientific Societies in Promoting Research Integrity."

• April 1, 2000 - National Institutes of Health - FY 2001 Testimony
  Appropriations statement regarding NIH funding for FY 2001.

• April 1, 2000 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - FY 2001 Testimony
  Appropriations statement regarding CDC funding for FY 2001.

• April 1, 2000 - National Science Foundation - FY 2001 Testimony
  Appropriations statement regarding NSF funding for FY 2001.

• April 1, 2000 - Food and Drug Administration - FY 2001 Testimony
  Appropriations statement regarding FDA funding for FY 2001.

• April 1, 2000 - U.S. Department of Agriculture - FY 2001 Testimony
  Appropriations statement regarding USDA funding for FY 2001.

• April 1, 2000 - Environmental Protection Agency - FY 2001 Testimony
  Appropriations statement regarding EPA funding for FY 2001.

• April 1, 2000 - Department of Energy - FY 2001 Testimony
  Appropriations statement regarding DOE funding for FY 2001.

• February 22, 2000 - NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Pluripotent Stem Cells
  The ASM submitted written comments to the National Institutes of Health on the Draft NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.

• February 14, 2000 - Draft Preliminary Food Safety Strategic Plan
  The ASM submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration on the Draft Preliminary Food Safety Strategic Plan.

• January 13, 2000 - NRC Research Doctorate Study
  The ASM sent a letter to Dr. James Voytuk of the Office of Science and Engineering Personnel at the National Research Council (NRC) urging the NRC to include the microbiological sciences as a separate discipline when the NRC conducts the research-doctorate study.

• January 6, 2000 - Food and Drug Administration Draft Guidance on Premarket Approval Applications for Assays Pertaining to Hepatitis C Viruses (HCV)
  The ASM submitted written comments to the Food and Drug Administration that will assist manufacturers in the design of studies for review of data and preparation of PMAs.