Recognizing Research
This week the House Appropriations Committee advanced its FY26 Labor-HHS and Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) spending bills. Funding levels remain the same as previously reported from the subcommittee markups. Read the Labor-HHS committee report here and CJS committee report here. Check out our updated budget chart for the latest proposed levels.
The full House and Senate still must pass their own bills and reconcile differences, something that may not be possible by the Sept. 30 deadline. In that case, lawmakers must pass a continuing resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown. It is anticipated that a CR would maintain FY25 funding for the government, including the NIH and other agencies, avoiding the serious disruption that a shutdown would cause. Use our editable email to urge your members of Congress to pass a short-term CR, prevent a shutdown, and complete the FY26 appropriations process.
Coming up on the Hill: Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 10 a.m. ET titled, “Restoring Trust Through Radical Transparency: Reviewing Recent Events at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Implications for Children’s Health,” with testimony from former CDC Director Susan Monarez, PhD, who was recently dismissed, and former CDC Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director for Program and Science Debra Houry, MD, MPH, who resigned. You can watch the hearing here.
MAHA Report: Earlier this week, the MAHA Commission released its second report, “Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy.” As required by President Trump’s Feb. 13, 2025, executive orderestablishing the MAHA Commission, this report outlines new and in-progress federal actions that build upon the Commission’s first report released in May, “Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment.”
In the Courts: A federal judge ruled last week that the White House’s attempt to cancel congressionally approved foreign aid funding without congressional approval is illegal. The ruling ordered the funds released this month, but Chief Justice Roberts has issued a temporary stay, putting the decision on hold while the Supreme Court weighs the appeal. This emergency pathway typically means the case will move rapidly through the courts. Beyond the crucial implications for our nation’s role in the global arena, this ruling could bear on the ability of the executive branch to act out of accord with federal appropriations law. Keep up with this case and other actions with our Administrative Action Timeline.
Eventful Month for Advocacy: September is shaping up as a big month for medical research advocacy, with a full slate of events, campaigns, and resources. To help coordinate and amplify these efforts, the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research has pulled together a shared calendar and resource hub.
Lasker Awardees Announced: The Lasker Foundation has just announced the winners of its 2025 Lasker Awards: Dirk Görlich and Steven L. McKnight will receive the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award; Michael J. Welsh, Jesús (Tito) González, and Paul A. Negulescu will receive the Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award; and Lucy Shapiro will receive the Lasker~Koshland Special Achievement Award in Medical Science. Congratulations to these new Lasker Laureates! You can learn more about their work here.
Voices Needed: Research!America is interested in speaking with researchers, patients, caregivers, and clinicians who want to share their stories to help drive support for medical research. If you’re interested in telling us about your experiences, we’d love to add your voice to the conversation. Please contact Jenny Luray at [email protected].
Check with your Local Chamber! A national coalition of chambers of commerce is hard at work advocating for research. If you don’t see your local chamber of commerce listed, reach out and ask them to join!
Research Forum: We are less than a week away from the 2025 National Health Research Forum’s in-person program on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the AAAS Headquarters in Washington, D.C. NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya will deliver the keynote address.
Registration is now closed. A special thanks to those who joined us yesterday to explore the evolving federal landscape for medical and health research. If you missed this virtual session with Dr. Julie Gerberding and Dr. Sudip Parikh, you can watch the video recording here.
Support Our Advocacy Work: Capitol Hill’s annual appropriations process is at a pivotal moment with research funding severely threatened. Your support is crucial in ensuring that research remains a national priority. Our work cannot wait. Decisions made in the coming weeks will shape the future of medical innovation for years to come. Donate now.
Thank you for your support and for all you do to assure better health, quality of life, security, and prosperity.
A Final Salute: We are deeply saddened by the recent death of Dr. David Baltimore, Nobel laureate and president emeritus of Caltech. Earlier in his career, David was tapped by Jack Whitehead as the founding president of the Whitehead Institute. Jack went on to found Research!America, and David was associated with us from then on, offering partnership, wisdom and support. We had the opportunity to honor him with the Builders of Science Award in 2009. Renowned for his discovery of reverse transcriptase, Dr. Baltimore’s contributions to molecular biology, immunology, and virology continue to shape biomedical research and innovation. He was a powerful advocate for research, science policy, and global health. The Research!America community extends our condolences to his family and friends.
Remembering 9/11: I want to close by remembering the anniversary of 9/11 and the nearly 3,000 Americans who lost their lives that day. We are united in our observance.