Another Continuing Resolution
To avoid a government shutdown, Congress will attempt to pass a continuing resolution (CR) before the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. Reminder: a CR is a temporary measure that keeps the government, with few exceptions, funded at current levels. While a CR is far from ideal, a government shutdown that suspends most government funding and services is worse.
For advocates, I perceive the current objective as twofold: Congress avoids a shutdown but doesn’t kick the can down the road into the new year. If the CR extends into 2025, funding for research and public health could be at serious risk. Use this editable action alert to make the case for the passage this month of a short-term CR. Silence by advocates now increases the chances of a shutdown and funding cuts going forward.
On the Hill: Speaking of why it’s important to wrap up FY25 appropriations this year rather than re-adjudicating funding in a new Congress: The current Senate funding level for NIH is nearly $2 billion higher than in FY24 – a high water mark that could be out of reach depending on the outcome of the elections. Thank you to the more than 200 organizations and individuals who signed the community letter we led to Senate Appropriations leadership thanking them for championing the proposed NIH increase.
All of Us: More regarding the budget: the NIH All of Us initiative, a nationwide clinical research effort aimed at dramatically increasing the data available for progress-fueling research, is facing a steep funding cliff. This terrific op-ed from cardiologist Pradeep Natarajan sums up what is at stake. Approximately 400,000 (that’s right, nearly half a million) volunteers have donated health data to this effort. Their volunteerism is already empowering research critical to faster progress. Draw from the aforementioned op-ed in your advocacy for All of Us and consider volunteering!
Veterans Empowering Veterans: Have you heard about the Million Veteran Program? Another astoundingly successful national clinical research initiative. A richly deserved thank you to our alliance member, NAVREF for its important role in this massive, and massively impactful, research undertaking!
September Alliance Member-only Meetings: If you are with an alliance member organization, we hope you will participate in two important alliance members-only meetings next week:
- Join us on Monday, Sept. 9, at noon ET for a roundtable with Dr. Susan Monarez, Deputy Director of ARPA-H. We’ve asked Dr. Monarez to update us as the agency establishes new and – as its mission demands – highly ambitious projects. The session will feature a brief presentation followed by an “Ask Me Anything” segment with pre-submitted questions – we’d value yours! (Check out our updated list of ARPA-H initiatives.)
- Join us on Thursday, Sept. 12, at noon ET for a brainstorming session around “Cures 2.1,” the newest generation of the landmark 21st Century Cures Act. Specifically, the bill’s prospective authors, Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Larry Bucshon (R-IN), are seeking feedback on whether and in what form to include research agency funding in the new bill; e.g., should NIH funding be dedicated to certain projects? What about FDA funding? What about adding AHRQ funding to the mix?
If your organization is a Research!America alliance member, email Jacqueline Lagoy to receive the Zoom registration links for these meetings. Do join us – your active participation lends so much value to these meetings. If your organization is not an alliance member, use (or share) this link for more information about membership or drop us a line here to arrange a quick call.
United States of Science: Mark your calendars for an event at the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) on The State of Science, Monday, Sept. 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. ET. Panelists include Nicholas Dirks (NYAS), Dario Gil (IBM, Science and Technology Action Committee [STAC] and National Science Board chair), Keith Yamamoto (UCSF, Research!America board member and STAC co-chair), and me. The discussion, moderated by Jo Craven McGinty of The Wall Street Journal, will focus on the challenges facing the scientific community, including the need to develop and fund a national S&T vision and plan, a recommendation included in STAC’s State of Science in America report.
The meeting is taking place in New York, but you can attend virtually. NYAS has provided a discount code, 5OFF, for the (already nominal) virtual and in-person registration.
National Health Research Forum: NIH Director Monica Bertagnolli, CDC Director Mandy Cohen, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Director Robert Valdez, and newly added, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Director Laurie Locascio, are just a few of the experts who will be joining us for Research!America’s 2024 National Health Research Forum this month. The first day will be virtual on Sept. 17 with the second day in person at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Won’t you add your name to the list? Register here for the virtual day and here for the in-person day.
ICYMI: Did you know that nearly a quarter of all school-age children experience a skin disease, or that children and adolescents with chronic skin disorders are likely to experience depression, stigmatization, bullying, and suicidality at rates nearly doubling those without such conditions? If you missed our eye-opening Zoom conversation with Mike Siegel, PhD, Executive Director of the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA), I hope you’ll watch it here.