Advocating to fund scientific research and investments in the psychology workforce

On February 19, 2026, APA Services hosted its third annual Council Hill Day event in Washington, DC, where 185 APA members and staff representing 46 states and territories spent the day advocating on Capitol Hill. In their meetings with congressional offices, advocates urged legislators to fund the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) and to cosponsor the ADAPT Act (H.R.4484/S.2356opens in new window), which would strengthen the psychological workforce and address the shortage in behavioral health service providers.

In preparation for their meetings, participants had the opportunity to hear from APA 2026 President Wendi S. Williams, PhD, Council Leadership Team Chair Rhonda Allen, PhD, and APA CEO Arthur C. Evans, Jr., PhD. In her remarks, Williams thanked members for their dedication to advocacy, saying, “Advocacy is how we move from listening to action. It is not a single moment—it is a continuous practice of incremental change, sustained commitment, and showing up even when progress feels slow.”

Katherine B. McGuire, MSc, APA’s chief advocacy officer, provided an overview of a new framework for strategic advocacy in the current policy environment that maximizes reach, readiness and relevance. McGuire explained that psychologists must be in tune with where psychology shows up in broader policy conversations, how advocates need to be prepared to step in and bridge gaps when windows of opportunity open, and how psychologists must leverage their expertise for the benefit of their field. “What we and policymakers see is shaped by experience, context, and culture,” McGuire said. “Understanding how perception is formed by our own environments and how we experience the world is foundational to good advocacy and overcoming the divisions that exist in society.”

APA advocacy staff led an issue briefing covering specific legislative requests. Corbin Evans, JD, deputy chief, science and technology, highlighted the need to invest in the NIH and NSF and advance research in human-centered AI. As artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a tool for medical decision-making and daily human interaction, APA Services seeks to ensure that these technologies are grounded in the reality of human behavior. Specifically, advocates urged Congress to fund NIH at no less than $51.3 billion and NSF at no less than $9 billion.

Additionally, APA Services urged the specific inclusion of report language in the FY 2027 appropriations bills to ensure AI development is grounded in psychological safety and behavioral health. This legislative request advances the APA Council Resolution on Artificial Intelligence and the Field of Psychology (PDF, 62KB)opens in new window.

Kenneth Polishchuk, MA, MPP, APA deputy chief for education and training policy, presented the second legislative request to cosponsor the Accelerating the Development of Advanced Psychology Trainees (ADAPT) Act [H.R.4484/S.2356opens in new window]. This bill would allow Medicare to reimburse services provided by advanced psychological trainees, allowing them to bill for behavioral healthcare provided under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. This legislation will be critical in supporting the education and training of future psychologists ready to meet the growing behavioral health needs of the nation. This legislative request advances the APA Council Resolution on Health Equity in Psychology (PDF, 100KB)opens in new window.

APA Services is incredibly grateful to the hundreds of psychologists who traveled to Washington, DC, to share their professional expertise and personal stories in the halls of Congress.

“As a clinical psychology PhD trainee, I deeply appreciated learning from seasoned mentors in effective science communication and translating psychological research into real-time advocacy that drives meaningful change for our profession and the communities we serve.” – Bharat Bharat, MA, MS

“Even when we were in challenging rooms, we showed up grounded in science with an unwavering commitment to our communities.” – Evelyn Burrell, PsyD, 2026 APA Advocacy Coordinating Committee chair.