By David Sher
I’ve been publishing ComebackTown for 13 years and I’ve never asked you to do anything.
But this time is different.
It’s time for all of us to take action.
UAB saved my wife’s life from a very aggressive breast cancer.
I’ve been diagnosed by UAB doctors with a leaking heart valve that will eventually need replacement.
I have two close family members who work at UAB.
And my company does business with UAB.
UAB means life, death, and financial security to me, my family, and many of you.
But UAB is facing a monumental challenge.
The new federal administration announced NIH (National Institute of Health) funding cuts that could severely impact UAB…and ultimately all of us in Birmingham and in Alabama.
UAB ranks in the top 1% of NIH-funded institutions in America.
In the past six years, UAB has received over $3 billion in NIH Funding.
In the 1930’s Birmingham was a one industry town. Alabamians suffered through the Depression, posting higher unemployment rates than any other southern state and boasting the dubious distinction of Birmingham’s being arguably the hardest-hit city in America.
Even in the 1950’s, when I was a child, if there was a work stoppage or strike at TCI (Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railroad Company), the Birmingham economy would literally shut down.
Birmingham might be a bit more diversified now, but UAB is, by far, our biggest economic engine.
Birmingham wouldn’t be much without UAB. To stress that point, I published a column a few years back “What would Birmingham look like without UAB—Anniston?”
My first thought was to throw a bunch of UAB numbers at you, but that’s probably not necessary.
Let’s just stick with these four:
- UAB is the largest employer in Birmingham
- UAB generates $12.1 billion in economic impact annually within the state of Alabama
- UAB supports 107,687 jobs throughout the state of Alabama.
- One in every 20 jobs within the state of Alabama either is held directly by a UAB employee or is supported as a result of UAB’s presence.
And it’s not just UAB that will be impacted. There are NIH funding cuts proposed for Auburn , Hudson Alpha in Huntsville, Southern Research in Birmingham, The University of Alabama, and the University of South Alabama in Mobile.
At the time of this writing, a federal judge temporarily blocked the new policy and everything is on hold.
But we must take action.
Senator Richard Shelby was responsible for bringing $100’s of millions to UAB, Birmingham, and Alabama.
I’m sure Senators Britt and Tuberville don’t want to be responsible for our State losing $100’s of millions.
Take action now: Your life and financial health may depend on it.
Call, e-mail, or request a meeting with Senator Britt by clicking here.
Call, e-mail, or request a meeting with Senator Tuberville by clicking here.
Senators Britt and Tuberville, please stand up for UAB and Alabama.
David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. He’s past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).
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Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. dsher@comebacktown.com
David: Thank you for ringing the alarm! I hope that Comeback Town’s readers take up your call to action and contact our Congressional delegation as well as our State’s legislative delegation and Constitutional officers!
I’m Deda from Denver. My family is from Bham and I attended Samford. I consider Birmingham home because my roots are there. Family and friends have either worked at UAB or received excellent care there. Birmingham’s entire community has benefited from UAB’s presence. You can count on me to call both senators.
Call them. I have heard from a staffer that the most effective communication to an elected is to call. Letters are the least effective and often get thrown away. They know most people don’t call so they pay more attention to a phone call or a voice mail. If the voice mail box is full call another one of their offices.
David, same situation here and will take the action you recommended – thank you for calling attention to this. With that said, and this isn’t directed at you or anyone in particular, but I feel compelled to share two quotes:
“Only now, at the end, do you understand?”
–Darth Sidious speaking to Luke Skywalker
“Hoist with his own petard”
–Hamlet
Thank you. My letters are in.
I emailed Katie Britt. Thank you for writing this.
E mails and texts to Senators Britt and Tuberville in addition to President Trump,, Robert Kennedy, Jr and Elon Musk.
Thanks for sounding an alarm. Placed (scripted) calls to both Britt and Tuberville’s offices last week…got the perfunctory email back from Britt’s office…frightening what’s happening here and elsewhere.
You guys ALL voted for Trump and now are in a panic over what you got? Priceless!
Just wait until Medicaid is cut also – that doesn’t just hurt poor people. Hospitals have high fixed costs and the loss of those patients impacts the rich white people too.
And on top of that you are stuck with Tuberville and Britt. Tuberville who has to be the dumbest person on the planet. Britt gives most females a bad name. Both full scale Trumpers.
From my experiences it wouldn’t hurt for UAB to be forced to focus a bit more on serving patients and less on chasing research dollars. Especially so now that they’ve eliminated some of the competition in the state.
But the school has developed to be a research university, at least in healthcare.
Thank you for this article. A financially healthy UAB is absolutely essential to the Birmingham metro area AND the State of Alabama. Why there hasn’t been a more public outcry from our leaders in all the surrounding towns and Montgomery, I can’t understand.
Representative Sewell has vowed to fight the cuts, Senator Britt has stated that she’s “aware” of the issue and favors a targeted approach to federal cuts. Tommy (Trump’s “Rubber Stamp”) Tuberville has stated that he fully supports the cuts…DISGRACEFUL.
UAB has an even greater economic effect (economic multiplier) than the numbers you presented. I hope we’re able to save UAB because without it, we are looking at a economic catastrophe the metro area and Alabama.
I emailed both senators requeting full finding of NIH. However the problem is not one of this single issue, rather it is a political problem. Federal and most state politics and politicians are working within a broken system and have been for the past 30+ years,
On the federal level politicians need to fall in step with the leadership of their political party or else they risk losing influence to that very same leadership. This is why so much of the topics/issues/bills for consideration only receive support based on political party affiliation.
Medical, science, and technology research is not a political issue, however politicians of the governing party must step lightly if they are to suggest funding against the wishes of leadership. This works both ways, it just depends on the issue.
I say all this to say…don’t expect to see our republican politicians publicly fight against Trump/Musk. They may have some backroom conversations but whatever cuts are decided to be put into the bill…both senators will vote in the affirmative.
The people of Alabama voted for Trump, Britt and Tuberville. WHAT THE HELL DID YOU EXPECT? Anyone with half a brain can research and know what these three stand for before casting your ballot. You wanted it. You got it!
Let’s be honest here. There isn’t a Republican in the House or Senate that can muster enough testicular fortitude to disagree with Trump or Musk, even if it means economic disaster for their own constituents. Dissent will not be tolerated. Britt’s “awareness” falls well short of actual advocacy or support.
Oh ok, now we need to DO something. Alabama DID something when they voted. This is what they voted for right?
Thank you for what you’ve written. It hit me like a cold splash of water in the face. In my personal view, UAB made the city that I was born in (umm…several decades ago) into something to be proud of.
Plus, I have a personal connection with UAB. I met my wife in a class at UAB. We both were awarded stipends from UAB to help us through college.
After graduation we moved away from Birmingham to chase graduate level educations and subsequent careers in places we never thought we would find ourselves. We’re both retired now. But we still have a lot of interest in, and love for UAB and Birmingham in general.
I’ll be sending my 2 cents to Britt and Tuberville right now.
I was happy to email both of them as follows:
Dear Senator ___________ —
The new federal administration announced NIH (National Institute of Health) funding cuts that could severely impact UAB…and ultimately all of us in Birmingham and in Alabama. UAB ranks in the top 1% of NIH-funded institutions in America. In the past six years, UAB has received over $3 billion in NIH Funding. Please consider the following:
* UAB is the largest employer in Birmingham
* UAB generates $12.1 billion in economic impact annually within the state of Alabama
* UAB supports 107,687 jobs throughout the state of Alabama.
* One in every 20 jobs within the state of Alabama either is held directly by a UAB employee or is supported as a result of UAB’s presence.
I am emailing you to ask that you please stand up for UAB and Alabama. Thank you.
Serious and productive research is not going to be cut out and Medicaid will stay. Within both, whatever is ineffective or not qualified is likely to go, saving money that can be used for what is serious.
Nevertheless it is a good idea to let the politicians know what you are worried about. It could help at least verify what I just wrote and help assure that the right things will happen.
Thoughts and prayers.
David,
Thank you for this information. I think it would be helpful to know exactly what programs and departments the NIH funded at UAB. This information would help to point out specific programs people can highlight in their letters. Would it be possible to share the 2024 breakdown of all programs and money they received?
Ha!
Maybe elections have consequences. Maybe Trump.isn’t a savior, but a NYC con artist, like the other half of us have been saying since 2015.
It’s hard to have sympathy when many of us spent a decade of warning you. When Trump was only out for trans people…it’s all good, right? When he is after Black and Brown people, what’s the problem? When he comes after YOU ALL, there’s nobody left to stand up for you.
I hope all the nastiness toward the “others” was worth it.
Not only that but there is no coming back from this, no re-do. I really don’t think y’all understand that but you will in time.
I never thought I would see the day when the GOP elected to back billionaires. Ever.
The worst…I happen to agree the fat needed to be cut. But this?
It’s only been a little over a month people. You can feel a recession coming.
I’m from Bham but live in Indiana. My arrhythmia cardiologist was trained at UAB. He’s the very best! I’m both proud and grateful to be his patient. My husband and I will be contacting Alabama’s senators as well as letting our Indiana senators know how we feel.
And, for what it’s worth, I intend to tell my doctor about this.
Thanks for all you do for Birmingham and Alabama, David.