July is approaching (and fast!) which means that the dog days are here - and I'm not talking about the weather.

Appropriations has a full slate of activity scheduled for now through the end of July.  The House is scheduled to take on LHHS and Defense the last half of the month before the August break.  Both bills are important as they provide almost $400 million in research funding for prostate cancer.  The Senate (which is staying in session an extra week to Aug. 10) should be able to finish their work on those bills as well.

Obviously, our attention is divided this summer as health care reform starts to build up steam.  There are many challenges ahead.  Our primary focus is to make sure that men are armed with information and can get the care they need.

Among the hot topics for debate will be universal health care (and all of the little tangents that go with it).  One thing that is of primary concern to us is the fact that irregardless of who is paying for what or how men are covered - it will be of little comfort under the current policies of our federal government as set by the US Preventative Services Task Force which does not recommend screening for prostate cancer.

Government plays a large role in the information that is distributed about many diseases from research (NIH) to prevention and control (CDC) to treatments and drugs (FDA).  Recommendations like those from the USPSTF are detrimental to outreach and awareness, and a disservice to all men - but especially those men who are at highest risk for prostate cancer.

If we cannot reach those men (the ones at highest risk for prostate cancer), then mortality rates will not continue on their current declining track.

These issues are not the only ones we are watching, but unless we start taking action and standing up for ourselves, we will be lost in the shuffle of health care reform.

By my calculation, there are 24 "working" days before they adjourn for the August work period and the agenda is packed with health care reform, energy legislation, supplemental and regular spending legislation, and in case you haven't heard - a Supreme Court nomination.

Health care reform is said to be on track for floor action in July.  The outline that President Obama has introduced appears to garner more agreement than disagreement, but the while the number of categories of disagreement may be low, the CONTENT of that disagreement may be challenging for both sides.

For instance, we know that raising taxes will be contentious and there is very little bi-partisan support for government-run insurance.  There are at least 6 different GOP versions of health care reform from various caucuses between the House and the Senate.  While this does not mean that each one will get it time on the floor, it does mean that there are a number of issues and ideas that Members are prepared to introduce and discuss before the final bill is passed in the House or Senate - and then they will have to negotiate an agreement between the House and Senate.  Go ahead and strap in because it's going to get bumpy.

House and Senate leaders will also be working to finish a supplemental appropriations bill before turning to the FY2010 appropriations cycle.  There are rumors of a potential markup in the House later this week.

The energy package has nothing to do with prostate cancer or health care, but is an important bill that has been in the works for a couple of years.

Now - if they actually put in 5-day work weeks, there could be as many as 39 legislative days before the August Break - but realistically, most work is done between Tuesday and Thursday.  Who knows - maybe they'll work Friday's too.

There is no update yet on the Senate Dear Colleague, but I hope to have that soon as well.

In other news:

We've had some very good meetings recently including with Alabama freshman Congressman Parker Griffith (5th district) who is an oncologist and was very excited to hear about the work we are doing.

We are currently working with Sen. Schumer (NY) and Rep. Marshall (GA08) to bring the NY delegation on-board as original co-sponsors of the Thomas J. Manton Prostate Cancer Early Detection and Treatment Act.  Once that happens, the bill will be introduced.  There may be a press conference arranged to announce the bill.

The PRIME Act has also been discussed recently, but an exact date for introduction has not been made clear.

I am not aware of any other legislation either pending or introduced.

If you are interested in knowing more about any of these please feel free to contact me, or if you have information about other relevant legislation, please let me know so I can start looking for it.

Thus we must make sure that our efforts to increase prostate cancer research at DOD do not waiver.  I am still awaiting word from our lead offices in the Senate and House that the letter has been drafted, but this should not dissuade you from contacting your Representative and Senators today.  You can help us today by visiting our joint website at www.fundresearchnow.org.

Other things that are coming down the pipe: