August 2021
Urge Congress to Support Neuroscience Priorities in FY 2022
Join your fellow NeuroAdvocates and tell Congress to support neuroscience priorities and invest in advancements for the field in FY 2022. Send your Representative and Senators a message via SfN’s Advocacy Action Center.
House Passes Appropriations Package Including Labor-H
The House has passed a seven-bill appropriations package that included the Labor-H appropriations bill. This bill provides a $6.5 billion increase to the NIH for a total budget of $49.4 billion, $3 billion of which will go toward the newly proposed ARPA-H. The bill also includes $612 million for the BRAIN Initiative, an increase of $52 million.
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Veteran Affairs Bill
The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the Veteran Affairs (VA) funding bill for FY 2022. The bill provides $112.9 billion to the VA including a historic level of $882 million for medical and prosthetics research, an increase of $67 million. This funding supports ongoing and new research areas including traumatic brain injuries.
Early Career Policy Ambassador Publishes Advocacy Piece
Christin Godale, a current ECPA and co-winner of the NeuroAdvocate challenge, authored a Neuronline article advocating for the ethical use of animals in scientific research as it relates to her own experience as a doctoral candidate in neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati.
The GetReal! Podcast Highlights Researchers Under Attack
The latest GetReal! podcast, hosted by Dr. Cindy Buckmaster, explores the beliefs and consequences of animal rights activists’ actions toward scientists using animals in research, including a personal account from prominent brain researcher, Dr. David Jentsch who endured years of attacks.
Register for Biomedical Research Awareness Day
Americans for Medical Progress (AMP) is hosting a Biomedical Research Awareness Day (BRAD) on Thursday, September 16th to promote the importance of biomedical research and humane use of animals. We encourage you and your institution to register for this event.
2021 Rally for Medical Research
Join your fellow advocates at the 2021 Rally for Medical Research on Thursday, September 23 for a chance to speak with your congressional representatives and staff about the importance of biomedical research. Registration closes August 30. Email advocacy@sfn.org if you plan to participate.
SfN Advocacy Resources
- Introduce yourself to the new Congress via the Advocacy Action Center.
- Watch the Neuroscientist's Guide to Advocacy series to understand the tools you need to help advance the field.
- Learn how to engage your members of Congress and persuasively advocate for science with SfN's Advocacy Best Practices.
- Get involved in global advocacy.
- Talk to the public about the importance of animal research.
- Reach out to advocacy@sfn.org for assistance in preparing for your next advocacy effort at home or on Capitol Hill.
