Funding for Medical Research
With its funding cuts of 7.8%, sequestration has the potential to inflect serious harm to research funded by the NIH and other agencies. Funding for NIH research helps maintain American’s status as the world’s leader in medical innovation. It supports progress toward life-saving research, better prevention strategies, and new treatments for arthritis and rheumatic diseases. The ACR has asked Congress to reject these cuts because funding reductions would eliminate jobs, exacerbate the research funding crisis, and further stall America’s research engine. During the recent lame duck session, Congress postponed these cuts until March 1 to provide time for a deal to be reached on spending and tax issues. The ACR is working for increases in the NIH budget, with a goal of at least $32 billion in funding for FY 2013.
To ensure successful policy outcomes for the rheumatology community, your personal involvement is very important. Your members of Congress listen to their constituents and it is important that you speak up. It only takes a few moments to make a difference by telling your elected officials how these issues affect you and your patients. To access tools to help you communicate with your lawmakers, or for more information on how to get involved with ACR advocacy efforts, take the time to visit www.rheumatology.org/advocacy today.