Research!America's Post-Election Analysis: Where Do We Go From Here?
To conclude our 2010 Your Candidates-Your Health initiative, Research!America held a post-election analysis last week in Washington, DC. More than 125 Your Candidates-Your Health partners, Research!America members and media attended the discussion at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a Research!America member.
Your Candidates-Your Health is an award-winning voter education initiative, the only one focused on research to improve health. Our post-election discussion shared 2010 results and tackled tough questions-particularly, what strategies will ensure research remains a funding priority for the new, 112th Congress?
Speakers included Albert H. Teich, PhD, director, Science & Policy Programs, AAAS; former Congressman John Edward Porter, Research!America chair; and Stacie Propst, PhD, Research!America vice president of science policy and outreach. Mary Woolley, Research!America president and CEO, moderated the discussion.
The event also marked the release of the 11th edition of Research!America's America Speaks poll data summary, supported by a grant from the United Health Foundation. Woolley urged advocates to use the poll findings in outreach to Congress and media.
Propst noted that more than 400 candidates responded to this year's initiative and 170 Members of the 112th Congress are on the record through Your Candidates-Your Health and its sister initiative, Your Congress-Your Health.
Porter said, "There's never been a tougher environment for making research funding a priority. We have to plan how to convince the public and Members of Congress that funding for research is a priority."
In 1995, as chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee for HHS and other agencies, Porter and leaders from business and science met with then-Speaker Newt Gingrich to spur the NIH budget doubling. Porter proposed messages for advocacy now: illustrating research results anecdotally, the importance of research to the economy and patients, the importance of U.S. leadership in science, and the need to prioritize research funding.
Woolley noted that, like Congress, scientists serve the public's interest and urged advocates to use the state data on Research!America's website for economic impact messages.
Your Candidates-Your Health partners also shared strategies and messages, including targeting congressional districts with strong research funding, emphasizing the public health impact of research, and noting that scientists are the small businesses of medical research.
Porter encourages Research!America members to generate messages to Congress from their grassroots networks and scientists to become as vocal as patient-advocates-to reach out to local radio and newspaper editorial boards and meet with their delegation's district offices about research funding.
"It will take motivated, committed people in Washington and motivated, committed people at home" to help Congress understand that the foundation of America's economy is science, technology, innovation and research, Porter said.
To join us in this effort, please send your thoughts on messages and strategies for 2011, to advocacy@researchamerica.org.
