Research and Public Health Advocacy

The ASM Office of Public Affairs tracks federal agency research and public health budgets and provides summary information to reflect the outcome of the appropriations process as it unfolds throught the year.  The Office of Public has a web page dedicated to the appropriations process (http://www.asm.org/RD-FY2014).

Legislative Alert!

July 23, 2013 - Legislative Alert: Contact Congress to Increase Research and Public Health Funding
The ASM has posted a legislative alert encouraging members to contact Congress to increase research and public health funding.

Research and Development Funding News

On July 18, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved by voice vote, the subcommittee’s FY 2014 appropriations bill for Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS). The legislation funds the National Science Foundation (NSF) at $7.4 billion, a $430 million increase over the House Appropriations Committees FY 2014 level. The bill will next be sent to the full Senate for approval.

On July 17, the House Appropriations Committee approved the FY 2014 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) spending bill for fiscal year (FY) 2014. The House legislation would fund the National Science Foundation (NSF) at $7 billion, $259 million below the enacted FY 2013 level, but $111 million more than the FY 2013 final funding level, after sequestration.

On July 10, the House approved its spending bill for the Department of Energy (DOE). The office of Science would receive $4.7 billion, approximately $300 million below the President’s request for FY 2014, and Basic Energy Sciences (BES) would receive $1.6 billion. The Senate Appropriations Committee, however, recommended $5.2 billion for the Office of Science, the same as the President’s FY 2014 request.

On July 9, the Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Labor Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies released its FY 2014 appropriation recommendations and included funding levels for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Highlights are:

NIH: the subcommittee recommended $30,945,776 billion for the NIH, an increase of nearly $307 million over the FY 2013 enacted level, before sequestration, and $147 million below the Administration’s request.

CDC: the subcommittee recommended $7,022,769 billion, an increase of $478 million from FY 2013 enacted level and more than $378 million over the Administration’s request.

In late June, the Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies approved their FY 2014 spending bill for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) among others. The legislation would fund the FDA with a total of $2.6 billion, $96 million over FY 2013 and the Agriculture Research Service (ARS) at the USDA would receive $1.1 billion, $51 million over FY 2013. The House Committee approved $2.5 billion in FY 2014 for the FDA, and recommended $291 million for the USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), $92 million below the President’s request.

Helpful Links:

Legislative Action Center
The ASM has an advocacy tool that allows ASM members to send messages to their representative and senators about issues of importance to the microbiological sciences.  The ASM Public Affairs Office updates the page with timely issue alerts.

Taking the Message to Congress
A guide to communicating with Congress from the American Society for Microbiology Office of Public Affairs.

Research and Development Funding for FY 2013 and FY 2014
The ASM Office of Public Affairs has developed this page to keep ASM members up to date on the appropriations process for Fiscal Years 2013 and 2014.

ASM Public Policy Web Page
Includes ASM policy statements, updates and reports.