Jennifer Zeitzer, Director of Legislative RelationsOffice of Public Affairs
SfG/ASMB Joint Meeting, Nov, 14, 2012
Biomedical Research: A Perspective from Washington, DC
What is FASEB?
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
Core Science Policy IssuesFASEB policy development, advocacy, coalition-building,
and communication frequently revolves around these issues…
TRANSLATIONALBASIC
Research Portfolio Balance
Animals in Research
Stem Cell Research
Annual Funding for NIH, NSF, DOE,
USDA, VA
Training and Workforce
Regulatory Burden Peer Review Open Access
Biosecurity
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 Update newsletter Press releases Policy summaries and analysis FASEB statements, testimony, letters,
talking points, and press releases
2012 Election Results
www.faseb.org
Senate54 – 45 – 1*
D R I
* Sen. Elect Angus King (ME) is an Independent.He is expected to caucus with the Democrats.
Dems +2
Republicans -2
197 – 233 D R
House
5 House Races Are Undecided (as of 11.12.2012)
AZ-02: Ron Barber (D) ahead by 700 votesCA-07: Recount likelyCA-52: Recount likelyFL-18: Patrick Murphy (D) ahead by 1,900 votes. Allen West (R) has not concededNC 7: Recount in process
Changes in Key Committees
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Daniel Inouye (D-HI), ChairmanRichard Shelby (R-AL), Ranking Member
Patty Murray (D-WA), ChairmanJeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member
Tom Harkin (D-IA), ChairmanMike Enzi (R-WY), Ranking Member
Hal Rogers (R-KY), ChairmanNita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Member
Paul Ryan (R-WI), ChairmanChris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ranking Member
Fred Upton (R-MI), ChairmanHenry Waxman (D-CA), Ranking Member
Changes noted in italics
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)
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Agenda for the “Lame Duck” SessionCongress 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
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Fiscal Year 2013 Science Funding Current Funding
(As of Nov. 1)
House Recommended
Senate Recommended
NIH $30.6 billion $30.6 billion(flat funding)
$30.7 billion(+$100 million / +0.3%)
NSF $7.0 billion $7.3 billion(+$299 million
/+4.3%)
$7.2 billion(+$240 million / +3.4%)
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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.
Super Committee fails to agree on plan to reduce deficit by $1.5
trillion
Congress adopts plan to cut deficit
by $1.5 trillion
UNLIKELY
Congress passes bill to
cancel sequestration SEQUESTRATION
8% - 10% cut to non-defense discretionary
spending (NIH, NSF, etc.)
November 2011
January – December 2012
Obama vetoes the bill?
“Sequestration”
OR
Jan. 2, 2013
Sequestration: Impact on Science Funding 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
* Exempted from sequestration: Veterans medical care, Pell grants, salaries/benefits for members of the military, etc.
Sequestration Scenarios
Five Options Have Emerged….
1. Jump Off the Fiscal Cliff
2. Strike A “Grand Bargin”
3. Balanced Approach
4. Kick-the-Can (No Deficit Reduction)
5. Kick-the-Can + Down Payment on Deficit Reduction
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The Scenarios And Funding For Research
1. Jumping Off the Cliff = 8% - 10% cut for NIH
2. “Grand Bargin” = focus would be on tax code changes and cuts to entitlements, potentially limiting cuts to research and other programs
3. Balanced Approach = the best option, especially if it includes no further cuts to research and other programs
4. Kick-the-Can/ No Deficit Reduction = not likely given the possibility of another downgrade to the U.S. credit rating
5. 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
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How YOU Can Get Involved
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!
Let FASEB help you get started!
Promote The Benefits of Research!Scientists can do a lot to engage policymakers
and the public:Tell a
personal story
Invite your
members of
Congress to your
lab
Speak to a
community group
Go to Capitol
Hill
Write a letter to
the newspap
erVisit
members of Congress in your home
state
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FASEB Advocacy Resources
Visit our Congressional Visit Toolbox
Sign Up for our E-Action Alerts
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FASEB Office of Public Affairshttp://www.faseb.org/Policy-and-Government-Affairs.aspx
Jennifer ZeitzerDirector of Legislative Relations
[email protected] (301) 634-7128
For More Information