On The Hill and On The Road
This week we bring you the latest developments on Capitol Hill as well as a new effort to take science advocacy on the road.
The draft reconciliation package released by the Senate Finance Committee on Monday evening included a provision making the R&D tax credit permanent. That provision was one of the recommendations included in the Science and Technology Action Committee’s Vision for American Science Technology (VAST), which was released in February. This draft represents the beginning of negotiations within the Senate and with the House, so we will continue to follow these negotiations and push for inclusion of the R&D tax provision. You can view the Senate’s section-by-section summary here.
Next Tuesday, June 24, at 10 a.m. ET, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health will have a hearing on the proposed FY26 HHS budget, which includes the NIH. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to testify. You can watch the hearing here.
Research!America will continue advocating for strong NIH funding as well as the broader research ecosystem it sustains and connects with. Follow our updates and take a look at our timeline to stay up to date on key administration actions affecting medical and health research.
“Road Show”: Earlier today STAC Co-Chair and AAAS President Sudip Parikh spoke about the VAST report at an event hosted by the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis. He and the audience of business and research leaders discussed the importance of business, academic, and other leaders working together to strengthen our S&T enterprise to ensure continued U.S. leadership and economic strength. Look for more VAST-on-the-road programs coming up soon.
Speaking Up for Science: Speaking of STAC, I turn your attention to this op-ed co-authored by STAC Member Neal Lane that ran in the Washington Post (subscription required). He and co-author Michael Riordan make an excellent case on the need for Congress to reject the harmful cuts to the National Science Foundation.
Engaging With The Press: Research!America sees engaging with the press as a valuable component of our advocacy work. Just this week, our own Ellie Dehoney, senior vice president of policy and advocacy, was quoted in Axios about NIH Director Dr. Jay Battacharya’s recent testimony before a Senate committee: “I think Dr. Bhattacharya wants NIH to continue to set the pace for medical progress,” Ellie states, “but what matters is whether he acts on (his) intention and stops the dismantling of American-led research.”
You too can speak up and engage. For example, writing a letter to the editor of a local or regional publication, either print or online, is an effective way to increase the public’s awareness of the importance of federal support for research. Read through our explainer and our sample letter to the editor and speak out on behalf of research!
FDA Voucher Program: On Tuesday, the FDA announced the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher (CNPV) program to shorten the drug review process from 10-12 months to 1-2 months. According to the FDA, vouchers will be given to companies that are addressing a health crisis in the U.S., delivering more innovative cures for the American people, addressing unmet public health needs, and increasing domestic drug manufacturing. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H., states that “the ultimate goal is to bring more cures and meaningful treatments to the American public.” It remains to be seen what therapies will meet this criteria. We will monitor how this is implemented. You can find the FDA’s press release on the CNPV here.
Americans and Vaccines: Vaccines have been in the news a lot recently: it’s useful to know what Americans think about how vaccines help prevent diseases and save lives. In a survey Research!America commissioned earlier this year, we asked Americans their views on vaccines. The vast majority (85.4%) said childhood vaccines save millions of lives, while 9.3% of Americans disagreed with that statement.
In the same survey, 74% of Americans said they were confident in the safety of vaccines, while 22% said they were not confident. Learn more about these and other insightful survey results in the latest edition of our Poll Data Summary, America Speaks!
Join Research!America: If you haven’t already, join our multi-sector alliance! The membership process is straightforward, the benefits are compelling, and your participation informs and intensifies our community’s influence on and off Capitol Hill. Email Senior Director of Development and Membership Kristen Furlong for more information.
Juneteenth: I’m writing a day early this week because our office is closed tomorrow in observance of the national holiday, Juneteenth. If you are taking time during this holiday, I wish you a restful break and an opportunity to reflect.