Monday, May 17, 2010
Support a 6-percent Increase in Postdoctoral and predoctoral Training Stipends
Dear NPA Members and Supporters,
The U.S. Congress is currently working on the appropriations bill that will provide the 2011 funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). President Obama's FY 2011 NIH budget includes a 6% increase in the amount allocated to training stipends.
President Obama released his Fiscal Year 2011 budget on February 1, 2010, and it includes a 6% increase in the amount allocated to training stipends. The National Postdoctoral Association applauds President Obama for recognizing the important and essential contribution of new scientists to the U.S. research enterprise.
Here are excerpts from the budget summary for the National Institutes of Health:
NIH will support 17,164 Full-Time Training Positions (FTTPs), which is 92 FTTPs below the FY 2010 level. The FY 2011 provides training stipend increases of 6.0 percent or $41.7 million over the FY 2010 level for a total dollar level of $824.4 million. ...
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards:
A total of $824.4 million, which is a 6.0 percent increase over the FY 2010, will be directed to training stipends. This increase sends a clear message to both existing and "would be" scientists that their efforts are valued.
In 2001, the NIH pledged to raise the base stipend for the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) to $45,000.Currently, the base stipend for postdoctoral scholars is $37,740. Due to a lack of funding, the NIH has been delayed in keeping its pledge.The stipends were not increased in 2007 and 2008 and only increased by 1% each year in 2009 and 2010. Because the NRSA stipend sets the national standard for postdoctoral compensation, it is extremely important that Congress appropriate funding for the 6% increase in the President's FY 2011 Budget.
As soon as possible, please send a message in support of the 6% increase to to the Senators and Representatives on the Senate and House Appropriation Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Other Related Agencies. We have provided a message for you, and you may copy and paste this letter into a form on each of their Web sites.
Contact the Senate subcommittee members by clicking here.
Contact the House subcommittee members by clicking here.
Source: National Postdoctoral Association
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