For more than a decade the HEAL program has provided federal guarantees for loans for chiropractic education, and has been a major factor in the growth and development of the system of chiropractic education in the United States.
The budget document containing this controversial proposal not only outlined the administration's intention to eliminate federal assistance for chiropractic students, but contained very negative and distorted characterizations of chiropractic colleges and the chiropractic profession. Describing the chiropractic profession as non-critical and in low demand, and chiropractic colleges as "questionable institutions," the budget document stated:
"The exclusion of chiropractic studies from the program would ensure that needy students are served by health professions' institutions that have earned the public trust and are worthy of receiving taxpayer support."
This unexpected administration initiative prompted an immediate and emphatic response from the International Chiropractors Association (ICA).
"This shortsighted and hostile proposal will be bitterly resisted with all the resources the ICA can bring to bear," said ICA Legislative Committee Chairman Dr. Sid E. Williams. "Unlike other legislative initiatives where chiropractic is seeking to expand its participation in federal programs, the legislation this administration is recommending will take something away from a profession that is already being cheated and shortchanged by medically-dominated public health programs."
The communications and government relations staff, working in close cooperation with the ICA Legislative Committee and ICA affiliated chiropractic colleges, has launched a vigorous political action campaign to defeat the administration's proposal. A "Chiropractic Student Emergency Political Action Kit" has been produced containing a summary of the situation and model letters to members of Congress urging a rejection of this proposal. An initial distribution of 6,000 kits is under way.
All 535 voting members of Congress are receiving a strongly worded letter calling for the immediate rejection of the administration's proposal, and providing the legislators with accurate and balanced information on the student loan issue. In addition, an in-depth survey of the membership of key congressional committees is being conducted by ICA's Legislative Committee and lobbying staff to lay the groundwork for the defeat of this anti-chiropractic proposal should the issue come to a vote in Congress.
"We can leave nothing to chance in this effort," said Dr. Sid Williams. "It is clear that strong forces have lined up against the chiropractic profession and only an immediate and energetic campaign of political action can ensure that this proposal will be defeated."
To receive an Emergency Political Action Kit call the ICA at (703)528-5000 or write:
International Chiropractors Association
1110 N. Glebe Road, Suite 1000
Arlington, Virginia 22201
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