APA Services participates in numerous coalitions that support NIH research and the public health agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The coalitions recently submitted testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, in support of these agencies.
The Coalition for Health Funding (CHF), an alliance of over 90 health organizations (APA Services staff is on the board of directors) represents more than 100 million patients and consumers, health providers, professionals and researchers. Their statement (PDF, 141KB)opens in new window emphasized the “need for strong, sustained, predictable funding for all federal agencies and programs across the continuum to prevent, treat, and reduce the level of chronic disease and mental health disorders, support people with disabilities, monitor and prevent existing and future infectious diseases, and continue America’s global dominance in biomedical discovery, research, and development.” The coalition further stressed that “now is not the time to divest in research and core public health capacities and add significant uncertainty to the public health and research continuum.” The coalition also urged Congress to restore programs that were “legally funded in FY24 and FY25 through bipartisan consensus.”
The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research, a coalition of over 500 patient and voluntary health groups, medical and scientific societies, academic and research organizations, and industry, submitted a statement (PDF, 185KB)opens in new window on behalf of biomedical, behavioral, social and population-based research conducted and supported by the NIH. The group emphasized that the president’s FY26 proposed budget would “erase decades of progress in enhancing federal support for medical research that improves patient health and well-being and saves lives.” It would also “decimate funding for NIH by nearly $18 billion, undermine progress on innovative research to develop treatments and cures for patients nationwide, further diminish our narrowing global leadership in biomedical research, and eliminate opportunities for top talent to pursue careers in making the next groundbreaking research discoveries.”
The Friends of the National Institute of Mental Health coalition, of which APA Services staff serve as cochair, is dedicated to supporting the mission of the National Institute of Mental Healthopens in new window to transform the understanding of mental health and the treatment of mental illnesses through basic biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research, to best inform prevention, early intervention, recovery, and cures. The coalition supported the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research’s NIH funding request and requested an increase for the institute commensurate with any increase to the topline NIH budget. The group’s testimony (PDF, 75KB)opens in new window highlighted the co-occurring nature of mental illness and many other chronic health conditions and emphasized that NIMH-supported research becomes even more critical in the administration’s efforts to address our nation’s chronic diseases.
The coalition also emphasized that “the impact of chronic diseases on mental health is a significant concern to the mental and public health communities. The research has shown the bidirectional relationship between mental health conditions and chronic diseases. Additional research is needed to better understand this relationship.” As recent actions by the executive branch have undermined Congress’ bipartisan, bicameral investment in health research, the Friends of the National Institute of Mental Health encouraged Congress to fully exercise its authority and responsibilities in this domain to ensure that all appropriated funding is spent as intended.
For more information, contact Angela L. Sharpe.
