What’s Happening in Washington:
House and Senate Reach Deal on Labor-HHS Funding Bill with $2 Billion Increase for NIH
While the Carolinas prepared for Hurricane Florence, Washington DC faced an advocacy storm of its own September 13 as the Rally for Medical Research Hill Day visited hundreds of congressional offices calling for a funding increase for the NIH. By the end of the day, congressional leaders announced they had struck a deal and the annual Labor-HHS spending bill is now poised for on-time passage for the first time in 22 years. The measure (HR 6157) was approved by a conference committee and is paired with the Defense bill.
The plan is to have the Senate vote on the package next week with the House to follow the week of September 24. The remaining spending bills will be covered by a Continuing Resolution until December 7, averting a government shut-down. Hopefully the bill will be able to pass both chambers and the president will sign it (We think it would be very difficult to veto funding for the military and shutting down the government during a natural disaster recovery, but stranger things have happened..)
The Labor-HHS conference compromise adds $2 billion to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It also avoids contentious health agency spending policy provisions and nixes an added Senate amendment calling for regulations promoting disclosure of drug price information in advertisements. The measure retains long-standing abortion and gun control advocacy funding restrictions.
Our advocacy has been on overdrive to support this funding increase. We thank all our member advocates who participated in our online campaigns or visited Congress during our multiple Hill Days. As you can see, advocacy does make a difference!!
What We are Working on:
In addition to NIH appropriations, this week we shared diabetes disaster preparedness materials, exhibited at the Congressional Public Health Fair, and met with the NIDDK Director to discuss research priorities. See photos below:
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