Earlier this month the White House Office of Science and Technology (OSTP), in collaboration with federal agencies and private-sector stakeholders, announced the launch of the National Microbiome Initiative that will seek to increase understanding of microbiome function and improve efforts to preserve and restore microbiomes. The initiative includes a combined federal agency investment of mor…

On May 5, the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), an ASPET partner, responded to a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on identifying and reducing regulatory burdens. The RFI sought feedback from the community on USDA regulations that could be modified, expanded, streamlined, or repealed to make their progra…

House still at an impasse with budget resolution; Senate moves forwards with “Innovations” bills without clear funding mechanism.  House Budget Committee Republicans met earlier this month in another attempt to seek out common ground on a budget resolution. Following the meeting, it remains unclear whether they are close to passing a budget for FY 2017. The conference can't agree on the spendin…

The Senate HELP committee has approved the final biomedical innovation bills that form its counterpart to the Cures Act.  The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee has since February been working on a companion bill to the House-approved 21st Century Cures bill.  The committee approved the final biomedical innovation bills that form its counterpart to the Cures Act.  Togeth…

The Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ), has selected Dr. Andrew Bindman as new Director  The Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ), has selected Dr. Andrew Bindman as the new Director; he assumed his post on May 2nd.  Previously, Bindman worked as a doctor at San Francisco General Hospital, advised HHS and CMS on improvements to data analytics for Medicaid, and served as an RWJF…

  The House and Senate appropriations committees recently solicited testimony on funding priorities from stakeholder organizations as they begin their work on the FY 2017 budget for the federal science agencies. ASPET has responded with statements to the appropriations subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services,  and Related Agencies (LHHS) in both the House and the Senate. The testimony ou…

Senate Committee moving forward companion to House 21st Century Cures Act with the approval of 19 pieces of bipartisan legislation making full-Senate consideration likely.  Following a successful, bipartisan committee process and approval of the last of 19 bipartisan pieces of legislation that will become the Senate companion to the 21st Century Cures Act – passed last year by the House of Re…

Strong workforce and science-based decision making are key issues for new FDA Commissioner  On March 4, the Senate Appropriations subcommittee listened to Dr. Califf’s first testimony as FDA Commissioner. The hearing was short, lasting only 45 minutes, because of scheduled Senate votes but Dr. Califf made clear that he had two priorities: building a strong, professional, well-supported FDA wo…

New legislation to increase funding for targeted biomedical research initiatives  Democrats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, led by Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Patty Murray (Wash.), March 3 introduced the National Biomedical Research Act (S. 2624) to increase funding for targeted biomedical research initiatives through a new, reliable funding stream …

Research sciences are high priority in budget and appropriations talks  House Republicans Clash Over Budget Response and Look Ahead to Appropriations Process:  House GOP conservatives continue to balk at the budget framework negotiated last year by former Speaker John Boehner and Democrats, and are threatening to vote against the budget resolution unless it cuts $30 billion from agreed-upon sp…