This blog is intended to go along with Population: An Introduction to Concepts and Issues, by John R. Weeks, published by Cengage Learning. The latest edition is the 13th (it will be out in January 2020), but this blog is meant to complement any edition of the book by showing the way in which demographic issues are regularly in the news.

You can download an iPhone app for the 13th edition from the App Store (search for Weeks Population).

If you are a user of my textbook and would like to suggest a blog post idea, please email me at: john.weeks@sdsu.edu

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Give Congress a Push to Save NIH Funding

The Population Association of America (PAA) has issued an Action Alert that needs a response from all us. Whether or not you personally have ever or in the future expect to receive funding from the National Institutes of Health, NIH funding has been critical to bolstering scientific research in population studies. There are many members of Congress who want to slash anything and everything, especially scientific research, and we need to support those members of Congress who are trying to stem that tide.
Today, July 24, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter to the members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The letter, which is addressed to Dr. Francis Collins, Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH), reinforces that NIH support of behavioral and social science, especially economics research, is a key component of the agency's mission.
At a time when some members of Congress may be questioning NIH support of these disciplines, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard wants Dr. Collins to know that many members understand and support the agency's investment in these areas.
We need you to tell your U.S. Representative to sign the letter.
This link will take you to the PAA website for detailed instructions about how to respond to this--30 July is the deadline for getting our letters in.

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