Latest Advocacy News

Washington Fellows Program

The Washington Fellows Program enables developing and early career scientists interested in science policy to learn about and become more engaged in public policy issues.

Learn More about the Washington Fellows 

ASPET's Impact

ASPET's advocacy efforts are shaping the science policy conversation on Capitol Hill and beyond. Recent examples include:

• ASPET raised concerns with the DEA and NIDA about HHS’s scheduling recommendation for constituents of the kratom tree on the grounds that the recommendation was unsupported by current research and would inhibit further research. Shortly thereafter, HHS withdrew the recommendation.
• The Maryland legislature, with the support of ASPET and several in-state academic institutions, passed a bill directing research institutions to facilitate the adoption of dogs and cats once they are no longer needed for research. Read our letter and testimony.
• ASPET provided its expert opinion to the House Committee on Energy & Commerce at the “Combating the Opioid Crisis: Helping Communities Balance Enforcement and Patient Safety” hearing. ASPET member Dr. Patrick Beardsley testified to the challenges faced by researchers who need access to scheduled drugs to conduct research with the potential to combat the opioid crisis. Read Dr. Beardsley’s testimony, and the statements for the record of Dr. Charles France and Dr. Catherine Davis-Takacs.

Become a Science Policy Advocate

ASPET provides many ways for members to get involved in science policy advocacy. Please visit our Toolkit section for more information, or contact our government affairs office at publicaffairs@aspet.org or (301) 634-7062.

Visit the Toolkit