July 2019
Federal News Roundup
- The House of Representatives passed two minibus measures that increase funding to $41.1 billion for NIH and $8.64 billion for NSF. Other notable funding levels include $411 million for the BRAIN Initiative and increases for Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs medical research programs. The Senate has not started the appropriations process for FY 20, wanting to negotiate a spending limits deal first.
- The Administration signed an executive order that requires all federal agencies to submit one third of advisory committees to be eliminated. Some committees, including grant review committees, are exempt from this executive order.
- The House Science Committee unanimously approved antiharassment legislation which “makes clear that the trigger for reporting [sexual harassment] is an administrative action that affects the ability of the grant personnel to carry out the activities of the grant.”
- A study from NSF which analyzed links between government grants and millions of U.S. patents and scientific papers from 1926 to 2017 found that almost one-third of patents in the U.S. rely on federal research.
A Neuroscientist's Guide to Advocacy Series
When scientists advocate for their research, it makes a difference. Check out SfN’s Neuroscientist’s Guide to Advocacy to equip yourself with the tools you need to help advance neuroscience research priorities, ensure federal research funding, and promote continued scientific discovery.
Congresswoman Wild Visits Neuroscience Lab at Lehigh
SfN member and #NeuroAdvocate Kristin Anderson organized a lab tour for Congresswoman Susan Wild at Lehigh University. Rep. Wild credited this tour in seeing how federal funds directly benefit cutting edge research, which led to the passage of federal funding she requested for research programs at Lehigh University and Pennsylvania State University.
Advocacy Knows No Borders
Lars Kristensen, executive director of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS), highlights how global advocacy movements can shape the policies of nations. Ways to affect these global movements include working with your national governments to prioritize international efforts, engaging colleagues from other nations to work together in advocacy, and more.
The Role of Animal Care Programs Amid an Animal Research Debate
When the use of animals in research comes under attack in Congress, it is more important than ever for scientists to lead the discussion on issues — including the historical phasing out of chimpanzee research, current public opinion, and lack of a common understanding on how animal research is carried out. Watch Eric Sandgren speak on the role that veterinarians and animal care programs play in experiments involving animals.
SfN Advocacy Resources
- Contact your legislator about research funding via the Advocacy Action Center.
- 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.
- Download the SfN Advocacy App for your Apple or Android device to have all your advocacy resources in one place.
- Reach out to advocacy@sfn.org for assistance in preparing your next advocacy effort at home or on Capitol Hill.
