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Biomedical Research: A Perspective from Washington, DC

Biomedical Research: A Perspective from Washington, DC. Jennifer Zeitzer , Director of Legislative Relations Office of Public Affairs. What is FASEB? . What Does FASEB Do?. Our Mission…

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Biomedical Research: A Perspective from Washington, DC

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  1. Biomedical Research: A Perspective from Washington, DC Jennifer Zeitzer, Director of Legislative Relations Office of Public Affairs

  2. What is FASEB?

  3. What Does FASEB Do? • Our Mission… • Advance health and welfare by promoting progress and education in biological and biomedical sciences through service to our member societies and collaborative advocacy. • It is accomplished through FASEB Public Affairs activities including… • Policy research and development • Advocacy and our role as government liaison • Coalition building • Communication and outreach

  4. Core Science Policy Issues FASEB policy development, advocacy, coalition-building, and communication frequently revolves around these issues… translational Basic Annual Funding for NIH, NSF, DOE, USDA, VA Research Portfolio Balance Animals in Research Stem Cell Research Biosecurity Training and Workforce Regulatory Burden Peer Review Open Access

  5. A Day In The Life… • Direct lobbying/advocacy • Meetings with members of Congress & their staff • Information gathering • Attend Congressional hearings and agency briefings • Monitor news, federal legislation progress, regulatory agency policies, scientific advances • Writing & reporting • Washington Updatenewsletter • Press releases • Policy summaries and analysis • FASEB statements, testimony, letters, talking points, and press releases

  6. 2012 Election Results Senate House 54 – 45 – 1* D R I 197 – 233 D R 5 House Races Are Undecided (as of 11.12.2012) AZ-02: Ron Barber (D) ahead by 700 votes CA-07: Recount likely CA-52: Recount likely FL-18: Patrick Murphy (D) ahead by 1,900 votes. Allen West (R) has not conceded NC 7: Recount in process Dems +2 Republicans -2 * Sen. Elect Angus King (ME) is an Independent. He is expected to caucus with the Democrats.

  7. Changes in Key Committees Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL), Ranking Member Hal Rogers (R-KY), Chairman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Member Paul Ryan (R-WI), Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairman Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY), Ranking Member Fred Upton (R-MI), Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA), Ranking Member Changes noted in italics

  8. Potential New Congressional Champions Senator-Elect Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) Senator-Elect Tim Kaine (D-VA) Representative-Elect Bill Foster (D-IL-11) Representative-Elect Joe Kennedy (D-MA-04) Representative-Elect Mark Pocan (D-WI-02) Representative-Elect Scott Peters (D-CA-52)

  9. Agenda for the “Lame Duck” Session Congress is back to work on Capitol Hill but will break for Thanksgiving Nov. 19 – 23, leaving only 4 weeks before Christmas to tackle a MASSIVE “To Do” list: Farm Bill Medicare payment rates for doctors Expiration of the Bush era tax cuts Alternative minimum tax Tax “extenders” (e.g. R & D tax credit) Unfinished Fiscal Year 2013 spending bills Sequestration Raising the debt ceiling Supplemental disaster aid for Hurricane Sandy Extension of Social Security payroll tax holiday Extension of unemployment benefits Cybersecurity legislation

  10. Fiscal Year 2013 Science Funding Fiscal year 2013 began on Oct. 1, 2012. However, since Congress did not pass any of the 2013 funding bills, all federal agencies are currently operating under a “continuing resolution” (H J Res 117) that expires on March 27, 2013.

  11. “Sequestration” Congress adopts plan to cut deficit by $1.5 trillion UNLIKELY Super Committee fails to agree on plan to reduce deficit by $1.5 trillion OR Congress passes bill to cancel sequestration November 2011 SEQUESTRATION 8% - 10% cut to non-defense discretionary spending (NIH, NSF, etc.) Obama vetoes the bill? Jan. 2, 2013 January – December 2012

  12. Sequestration: Impact on Science Funding * Exempted from sequestration: Veterans medical care, Pell grants, salaries/benefits for members of the military, etc. • NIH, NSF, and other agencies face at least an 8%-10% cut. However, several programs* will be exempt from sequestration – so NIH and NSF will have to absorb more of the cuts • In April FASEB released an analysis illustrating the potential damage to NIH if sequestration is implemented • 11.1% ($2.8 billion) cut to the FY 2013 extramural budget • Loss of 700 (OMB estimate) to 2,300 grants (NIH/ Senator Harkin, D-IA, estimate) • FASEB estimates that the NIH cuts will exceed $100 million in 8 states (CA/ MD/ MA/ NY/ NC/ PA/ TX/ WA) • FASEB has factsheets showing impact of sequestration on NIH funding for each state • NSF could face a cut of $530 million • Loss of 1,500 research & education grants

  13. Sequestration Scenarios Five Options Have Emerged…. Jump Off the Fiscal Cliff Strike A “Grand Bargin” Balanced Approach Kick-the-Can (No Deficit Reduction) Kick-the-Can + Down Payment on Deficit Reduction

  14. The Scenarios And Funding For Research Jumping Off the Cliff = 8% - 10% cut for NIH “Grand Bargin” = focus would be on tax code changes and cuts to entitlements, potentially limiting cuts to research and other programs Balanced Approach = the best option, especially if it includes no further cuts to research and other programs Kick-the-Can/ No Deficit Reduction = not likely given the possibility of another downgrade to the U.S. credit rating Kick-the-Can/ Down Payment on Deficit Reduction = almost as bad as Scenario #1 because the “down payment” would include cuts to research and other programs

  15. How YOU Can Get Involved Let FASEB help you get started! • Subscribe to FASEB’s Washington Update • Follow us on Twitter - @FASEBopa • Become a fan of our Facebook page • Explore FASEB’s NIH and NSF • Advocacy Clearinghouses • Join one of the 26 FASEB member • societies for extensive benefits!

  16. Promote The Benefits of Research! • Scientists can do a lot to engage policymakers and the public: Visit members of Congress in your home state

  17. FASEB Advocacy Resources Visit our Congressional Visit Toolbox Sign Up for our E-Action Alerts

  18. For More Information FASEB Office of Public Affairs http://www.faseb.org/Policy-and-Government-Affairs.aspx Jennifer Zeitzer Director of Legislative Relations jzeitzer@faseb.org (301) 634-7128

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