July 2023
Urge Congress to Protect Neuroscience Research and Avoid Spending Cuts in FY 2024
We urge you to reach out to your legislators now, as the House Appropriations Committee has released draft spending bills proposing devastating cuts to medical research. Join fellow NeuroAdvocates in urging Congress to protect neuroscience research and avoid deep spending cuts in Fiscal Year 2024. It is essential Congress demonstrates its commitment to scientific research and discovery by providing the highest possible funding levels for federal science agencies and programs. Send your Representative and Senators a message via SfN’s Advocacy Action Center and personalize it by stating why inadequate research funding would be detrimental to your own work as a neuroscientist.
How This Early Career Scientist Hopes to Motivate Diverse Students
Current Early Career Policy Ambassador (ECPA), Monserrat Orozco, shares in a Neuronline interview how being a first-generation, low-income, bisexual, and Chicana student has shaped her personal and professional journey, and how the field of neuroscience can benefit from allyship and the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Appropriations Process Moves Forward
Since the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 was signed into law last month, both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have moved forward with their respective bills for FY 24. At the time of writing this, the House Appropriations Committee has approved nine of its 12 appropriations bills and the Senate Committee has approved five bills. While the Senate plans to write its bills in accordance with the overall budget cap set in the debt limit agreement, the House has chosen to cut FY 24 spending below the amount set in the agreement, closer to FY 22 levels. Both Committees approved $938 million for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Program, a $22 million increase over FY 23 and equal to President Biden’s budget proposal. Both Committees have released their draft FY 24 Commerce-Justice-Science bill with the House providing $9.63 billion for the NSF, about a $91 million increase from FY 23 and the Senate providing $9.5 billion for the NSF, about equal to the base budget for FY 23 which includes $7.6 billion for NSF’s research and related activities to implement the CHIPS and Science Act. Lastly, the House Appropriations Committee released their draft FY 24 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill providing $43 billion for the NIH, a $3.8 billion decrease from FY 23 according to the majority summary. The Senate LHHS bill has yet to be released. If you haven’t already, we urge you to send your legislators a message urging them to protect neuroscience research and avoid deep spending cuts in Fiscal Year 2024.
NIH Seeking Information on Novel Alternative Methods in Biomedical Research
The NIH has released a request for information (RFI) seeking public input on challenges and opportunities for the further development and use of novel alternative methods (NAMs) in biomedical research. To identify areas in which the development and use of NAMs provide the most value to biomedical research, NIH sought the assistance of the Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD). The purpose of this request is to inform the NIH and the development of the ACD’s recommendations on high-priority areas for future investment. Responses to this RFI are voluntary and may be submitted anonymously no later than August 16.
The NIH BRAIN Initiative: Accelerating Discovery Toward Cures
On June 14, the Congressional Neuroscience Caucus (CNC), in partnership with the American Brain Coalition, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, the Dana Foundation, and the Simons Foundation, hosted an in-person Congressional briefing highlighting the groundbreaking research carried out by the BRAIN Initiative. Read a summary of the briefing to learn what panelists had to discuss regarding this important program within NIH.
Register for the Rally for Medical Research
Join your fellow advocates from around the country for the 2023 Rally for Medical Research taking place in-person on Thursday, September 14th with a reception being held the evening before for all participants to celebrate medical research as a community. Advocates will meet with their congressional representatives and staff to discuss why funding for NIH should continue to be a national priority and raise awareness about the importance of continued investment in medical research.
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 effectively 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.
