2010 Statements and Testimony

• November 23, 2010 - ASM Sends Recommendations to the President on FY 2012 Funding
  The ASM sent a letter to President Obama recommending that NIH funding be increased to $35 billion in the proposed FY 2012 budget.

• October 20, 2010 – ASM Presentation before the NSABB Codes of Conduct Working Group
  The ASM made a presentation before the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity on “Codes of Conduct and Dual Use Research.”  The round table was titled, “Promoting Awareness and Responsibility in Dual Use Research: A Critical Assessment of the Role of Codes of Conduct.”  Dr. Ronald Atlas, Co-chair of the Committee on Biodefense presented ASM’s comments. 

• October 7, 2010 - ASM Congratulates NIH on the Establishment of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
  The ASM sent a letter to Dr. John Ruffin congratulating him on the elevation of the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities to an Institute.
  
  
• October 6, 2010 – ASM Cosigns Letter to FDA Regarding LTD Registry Concept
  The ASM cosigned a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to express concern about a concept under FDA consideration whereby laboratories might have to register and list the laboratory developed tests they develop.
  
  
• September 15, 2010 – ASM Cosigns Letter to FDA to Encourage Interactive Dialogue on LDTs
  The ASM cosigned a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the clinical and public laboratory community’s desire to engage with the FDA in an interactive dialogue to explore and seek solutions that will not disrupt innovation and the value laboratory developed tests bring to patient care.
  

• August 31, 2010 - ASM Invited to Testify before Federal Biosecurity Panel
  The ASM Public and Scientific Affairs Board was invited to present comments on August 31 at the meeting of the Federal Experts Security Advisory Panel (FESAP). 

• August 30, 2010 - ASM Comments on the Proposed Changes to the APHIS List of Select Agents and Toxins
  The ASM sent comments to APHIS on the Federal Register notice, "Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002; Biennial Review and Republication of the Select Agent and Toxin List; Reorganization of the Select Agent and Toxin List."

• August 20, 2010 - ASM Comments on the FDA Draft Guidance on Judicious Use of Medically Important Antimicrobial Drugs in Food-Producing Animals
  The ASM submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the June 29, 2010 Federal Register Notice, "The Judicious Use of Medically Important Antimicrobial Drugs in Food-Producing Animals."

• August 19, 2010 - ASM Comments on the Changes to the HHS List of Select Agents and Toxins
  The ASM sent comments to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention responding to the July 21, 2010 Federal Register Notice, "Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002; Biennial Review and Republication of the Select Agent and Toxin List."

• August 17, 2010 – ASM Submits Comments on “Multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and pandrug-resistant (PDR) bacteria in healthcare settings. Expert proposal for a standardized international terminology."
  ASM’s Committees on Laboratory Practices and Professional Affairs submitted comments to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on its draft document, “Multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and pandrug-resistant (PDR) bacteria in healthcare settings. Expert proposal for a standardized international terminology.” 

• August 13, 2010 – ASM Submits Comments to CDC on Draft Guidelines for Safe Work Practices in Human and Animal Clinical Diagnostic Laboratories
  On August 13, the PSAB Committee on Laboratory Practices submitted comments to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on its draft Guidelines for Safe Work Practices in Human and Animal Clinical Diagnostic Laboratories.   

• July 22, 2010 - Payment Determinations for Calendar Year 2011 for New Clinical Laboratory Tests
  On July 22, the ASM presented recommendations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at its annual Laboratory Public Meeting regarding payment levels for new tests to be included in the 2011 Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule.

• July 20, 2010 - ASM Presents Comments to FDA/CDRH at Public Meeting on Oversight of Laboratory Developed Tests: Clinical Lab Challenges
  On July 20, the ASM presented comments at a public meeting sponsored by the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) on Oversight of Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs):  Clinical Lab Challenges.  The purpose of the meeting was to provide a forum where interested stakeholders could present comments regarding reasonable and effective regulation of LDTs.  The meeting took place in Hyattsville, MD on July 19-20, 2010. 

• July 13, 2010 - ASM Comments on the WMD Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2010
  ASM sent comments to  the House Committee on Homeland Security commenting on the WMD Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2010 (HR 5498).

• June 7, 2010 - ASM Comments on Antimicrobial Resistance
  The ASM provided comments to the Department of Health and Human Services Trans-Atlantic Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance at its June 7 stakeholder Listening Session.

• May 20, 2010 – ASM Submits Comments on CDC’s revised draft guideline, Prevention of Perinatal Group B Strep Infection
  On May 20, the Committees on Laboratory Practices and Professional Affairs provided comments to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding its revised draft guideline, Prevention of Perinatal Group B Strep Infection.  The comments focused on the laboratory portion of the guideline.  
  

• May 20, 2010 - ASM Statement on JVCI Paper on Synthesizing DNA Genome

• April 22, 2010 - ASM Comments on the NIGMS Strategic Plan
  The ASM submitted comments on the NIGMS Strategic Plan.  The comments were prepared with input from the Public and Scientific Affairs Board Committee on Microbiological Issues Impacting Minorities and the Committee on Biomedical Research. 

• April 1, 2010 - Environmental Protection Agency - FY 2011 Testimony
  Appropriations statement regarding EPA funding for FY 2011.

• April 1, 2010 - Department of Energy - FY 2011 Testimony
  Appropriations statement regarding DOE funding for FY 2011.

• April 1, 2010 - National Science Foundation - FY 2011 Testimony
  Appropriations statement regarding NSF funding for FY 2011.

• April 1, 2010 - National Institutes of Health - FY 2011 Testimony
  Appropriations statement regarding NIH funding for FY 2011.

• April 1, 2010 - U.S. Department of Agriculture - FY 2011 Testimony
  Appropriations statement regarding USDA funding for FY 2011.

• April 1, 2010 - Food and Drug Administration - FY 2011 Testimony
  Appropriations statement regarding FDA funding for FY 2011.

• April 1, 2010 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - FY 2011 Testimony
  Appropriations statement regarding CDC funding for FY 2011.

• February 4, 2010 - ASM Applauds Increases for Research Budgets
  The ASM issued a statement regarding the President's FY 2011 budget, which includes increases for federal agencies that support research.

• January 14, 2010 - ASM Comments on the Screening Framework Guidance for Synthetic Double-Stranded DNA Providers
  The ASM submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services on the November 27, 2009 Federal Register notice on the Screening Framework Guidance for Synthetic Double-Stranded DNA Providers.