The Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMSNY) held its annual Washington DC Advocacy Days July 29th and 30th. The Deans and government relations representatives from over half of AMSNY’s member institutions met with Senators and Congressmen, and their staffs, from nine states and both political parties to stress the need for bi-partisan support for NIH funding.

Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) has introduced the Accelerating Biomedical Research Act, legislation that would allow for adjustments to the caps put on the NIH budget by the Budget Control Act. The intent is to allow the NIH to restore the purchasing power it would have had, if its’ funding had kept pace with inflation since 2003. Over 20 organizations and institutions have endorsed the bill.