Advocacy

News from the Hill: April 25, 2025

On Tuesday, April 15, 250 scientists from across the country traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with Senators and Representatives and advocate for the full spectrum of medical research. The community’s annual Capitol Hill Advocacy Day was part of the Translational Science meeting and saw so much interest for 2025 that participation had to be capped. Ultimately, advocates representing 33 states, DC, and Puerto Rico met with congressional staff to educate them about the value and importance of medical research, including national competitiveness, local investment, and patient impact. To coincide with the 2025 Hill Day, CCTS launched a new website to serve as a central hub for advocacy information and to provide updates on key issues and activities. Please visit, https://coalition4cts.org/.

Despite the headlines about attacks on science and scientific infrastructure, Hill Day advocates saw strong support for their efforts from both sides of the aisle. While offices acknowledged that FY 2026 will be a challenging year for federal spending, broad support remains for community priorities. Specifically, advocates were calling on Congress to provide:

  • The National Institutes of Health (NIH) with at least $51.3 billion for the National Institutes of Health, roughly a 9% increase over FY 2025.
  • A restoration of funding for the Cancer Moonshot, All of Us Research Program, BRAIN Initiative and related programs previously supported through the 21st Century Cures Act.
  • The National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) at NIH with a proportional 9% funding increase for FY 2025, including:
    • At least $650 million in dedicated line-item funding for the flagship Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program, an increase of $20.5 million over FY 2025. The CTSA program is central to ongoing efforts to modernize and enhance the full spectrum of medical research at NIH, and annual committee instructions and funding serve an important function of preserving the size, scope, and strategic direction of CTSAs.
    • At least $90 million in appropriated funding for the Cures Acceleration Network (CAN), an increase of at least $20 million over FY 2025.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with at least $11.58 billion, an estimated increase of $2.37 billion over FY 2025, and invest in various chronic disease activities.
  • The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) with at least $500 million, an estimated increase of $126.7 million over FY 2025, and continue to preserve the integrity of this distinct and impactful agency.
  • A restoration of funding for the DOD Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program and its individual line-items and research programs to their full FY 2024 levels.

More broadly, advocates asked Congress for support for science including the pipeline for young investigators, investment in the health workforce (particularly for rural care), and enhancements to patient care. Participants used local stories and personal anecdotes to better connect national resources with local progress and development. Outreach will continue as Congress continues to work on FY 2026 appropriations and related policy items.

 

By: Dane Christiansen, Washington Representative (the Health and Medicine Counsel)