CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY
Each year, AAI submits written testimony to the House and Senate subcommittees that fund NIH. Among other things, these testimonies include an NIH funding request and highlight important immunologic discoveries.
- AAI submits testimony to the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee recommending an appropriation of at least $51 billion for the NIH base budget for FY 2024 (05/17/23)
- AAI submits testimony to the House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee recommending an appropriation of at least $51 billion for the NIH base budget for FY 2024 (03/21/23)
AAI testimony on FY 2023 NIH appropriations
- AAI submits testimony to the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee recommending an appropriation of at least $49 billion for the NIH base budget for FY 2023 (05/02/22)
- AAI submits testimony to the House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee recommending an appropriation of at least $49 billion for the NIH base budget for FY 2023 (05/20/22)
AAI testimony on FY 2022 NIH appropriations
- submitted to the Senate on 06/21/21 (written)
- submitted to the House on 05/19/21 (written)
AAI testimony on FY 2021 NIH appropriations
- submitted to the Senate on 05/21/20 (written)
- submitted to the House on 03/20/20 (written)
AAI testimony on FY 2020 NIH appropriations
- submitted to the Senate on 5/28/19 (written)
- submitted to the House on 4/5/19 (written)
AAI testimony on FY 2019 NIH appropriations
- submitted to the House on 4/24/18 (written)
- submitted to the Senate on 5/18/18 (written)
AAI testimony on FY 2018 NIH appropriations
- submitted to Senate on 5/25/17 (written)
- submitted to House on 3/6/17 (written)
LETTERS AND COMMENTS
The AAI Committee on Public Affairs communicates the policy positions of AAI through letters to legislators, government officials/agencies, and other organizations that have an impact on biomedical research.
- AAI issues statement on the concept of “immunity debt” (08/29/23)
- AAI CPA Chair Gretchen Diehl sent a letter to Rep. McClellan regarding AAI’s support of the RESEARCHER Act (08/28/23)
- AAI President Akiko Iwasaki sends letter to Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo congratulating her on being appointed NIAID Director
- AAI issues statement expressing concern about the FY 2024 House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee bill (07/17/23)
- AAI responds to the Request for Comments from NIH on its Notice to Announce NIH Updated Policy Guidance for Subaward/Consortium (07/05/23)
- AAI submits comments to NIH in response to its Request for Information on improving NRSA fellowship review (06/22/23)
- AAI submits comments to NIAID in response to its Request for Information seeking input on DEIA across NIAID extramural activities (5/30/23)
- AAI issues statement on President Biden’s Impending Nomination of Dr. Monica Bertagnolli to be the next NIH Director
- AAI submits comments to NIH regarding its Public Access Plan (04/21/23)
- AAI submits comments to NIH in response to its Request for Information on re-envisioning U.S. postdoctoral training and career progression (04/14/23)
- AAI submits comments to NIH on its Request for Information on Simplifying Peer Review Criteria (03/09/23)
- AAI issues statement decrying Supreme Court decision in Dobbs; Moves IMMUNOLOGY2024™ from Phoenix to Chicago (12/16/22)
- AAI issues statement in response to recent questions about whether the COVID-19 pandemic is over, and urging eligible Americans to get fully vaccinated and boosted (10/14/22)
- AAI President Mark Davis issues a statement thanking Dr. Anthony Fauci for more than five decades of public service and scientific leadership (08/22/22)
- AAI President Mark Davis issues a statement in recognition of National Immunization Awareness Month (08/01/22)
- AAI sent a letter to key congressional leaders urging them to quickly approve legislation that provides at least $15.6 billion in supplemental funding to address ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic (04/14/22)
- AAI CPA Chair Peter Jensen issues statement on President Biden’s FY 2023 budget request (04/12/22)
- AAI President Koretzky issues statement reaffirming the organization’s commitment to “fostering an inclusive and diverse biomedical research community working in environments free of harassment, discrimination, and fear.” (02/23/22)
- AAI issues statement urging “all Americans to get fully vaccinated, and when eligible, to receive a booster shot against COVID-19.” (12/02/21)
- AAI issues statement in support of the U.S. Air Travel Public Safety Act (11/04/21)
- AAI President Gary Koretzky issues statement on Dr. Francis Collins’ Decision to Step Down as NIH Director (10/06/21)
- AAI submits comments in response to the Cures 2.0 Act discussion draft and a request for information on the proposed Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (07/15/21)
- AAI co-signs community letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding the refusal of some airlines to transport animals for research purposes (06/25/21)
- AAI joins community statement in support of the continued use of human fetal tissue in research (06/21/21)
- AAI joins community letter to congressional leaders supporting “investments in the infrastructure underpinning the medical research enterprise" (05/19/21)
- AAI submits comments to NIH on the importance of ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion in the biomedical research workforce (also includes AAI-endorsed comments submitted to NIH by FASEB) (04/09/21)
- AAI sends letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris congratulating them on their inauguration and recognizing their strong commitment to science (02/17/21)
- AAI sends letter endorsing the House version of the Research Investment to Spark the Economy (RISE) Act (02/17/21)
- AAI sends letter endorsing the Senate version of the Research Investment to Spark the Economy (RISE) Act (02/17/21)
- AAI signs community statement supporting an appropriation of $46.1 billion for NIH for FY 2022 (02/09/21)
- AAI issues statement opposing an “unprecedented and dangerous strategy to achieve ‘herd immunity’ by intentionally allowing COVID-19 to infect healthy Americans” and instead supporting vaccination (11/16/20)
- AAI joins community letter to Reps. Hoyer, Connolly, and Maloney, thanking them for introducing a bill that would reverse an Executive Order that could deprive federal employees (including scientists) of their civil service protections (11/11/20)
- AAI submits comments in opposition to a proposed rule that would establish fixed periods of stay for F and J visa holders. (10/26/20)
- AAI leadership issues statement expressing deep concern about “reports of significant and increasing political interference by the Administration in efforts by ... CDC and FDA ... to keep the public safe” during the COVID-19 pandemic (10/14/20)
- AAI cosigns community letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget urging them to rescind executive actions that at least temporarily eliminate many federal training programs on diversity, equity, and inclusion (10/07/20)
- AAI sends letter to NIH in support of an effort by a group of scientists to elevate the Recruitment and Retention Plan to Enhance Diversity to scorable status for institutional training grants (10/06/20)
- AAI joins community letter to Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX, 30th) supporting her request to fund a NASEM study on systemic racism in academia. (09/01/20)
- AAI joins community letter in support of $15.5 billion for NIH in the next COVID-19 relief bill (08/06/20)
- AAI joins coalition letter to the NIH Human Fetal Tissue Ethics Advisory Board (07/28/20)
- AAI signs community letter urging the Trump Administration to reverse its decision to bypass CDC in collecting and reporting COVID-19 patient data (07/17/20)
- AAI signs community letter in support of scientific and public health experts, like Dr. Anthony Fauci (07/15/20)
- AAI sends message to AAI members expressing support for scientific and public health leaders like Dr. Anthony Fauci, and encouraging them to offer support to these leaders via social media (07/14/20)
- AAI signs community letter strongly opposing new Trump Administration policy that will effectively deport international students who are enrolled at U.S. universities that are providing classes exclusively online, or who are taking only online classes. (07/08/20)
- AAI sends letter to Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Lamar Alexander in response to his White Paper on “Preparing for the Next Pandemic” (06/26/20)
- AAI issues statement opposing U.S. withdrawal from the WHO and visa changes affecting Chinese scientists/students (06/09/20)
- AAI submits testimony to the Senate in support of a $44.7 billion budget for NIH for FY 2021 (05/21/20)
- AAI sends letter to NIH Director Collins regarding the termination of a research grant (05/20/20)
- AAI endorses bipartisan Senate effort to provide funding for pandemic-related research losses, including additional support for trainees (4/29/20 and 05/08/20)
- AAI endorses bipartisan House effort to provide funding for pandemic-related research losses, including additional support for trainees (4/28/20)
- AAI sends letter urging the President, Congressional leaders, to heed advice of Dr. Fauci and other scientific and public health experts during COVID-19 pandemic (04/15/20)
- AAI signs community letters to House and Senate appropriators calling for a nonpartisan review of the COVID-19 response (03/30/20)
- AAI signs community letter to President Trump urging him to lift restrictions on federally funded human fetal tissue research, particularly for research on COVID-19 (03/25/20)
- AAI submits testimony to the House in support of a $44.7 billion budget for NIH for FY 2021 (03/20/20)
- AAI issues statement strongly opposing President Trump’s FY 2021 budget request for NIH (02/10/20)
- AAI submits comments to NIH on its draft policy on data management and sharing (01/07/20)
- AAI joins multisociety letter to Administration officials on foreign scientists (9/4/2019)
- AAI signs community letter to HHS in opposition to its new policies regarding fetal tissue research (07/11/19)
- AAI signs community letter regarding the use of fetal tissue in research (06/12/19)
- AAI President submits testimony to the Senate Finance Committee regarding international scientific collaborations and exchange (06/05/19)
- AAI joins NDD United letter to all Members of Congress urging them to raise the FY 2020 and FY 2021 budget caps (04/02/19)
- AAI issues statement in strong opposition to President Trump’s FY 2020 budget request for NIH (03/11/19)
- AAI issues statement on the importance of vaccination and the measles outbreak (03/05/19)
- AAI submits comments to NIAID regarding its proposed New Innovator Award (12/27/18)
- AAI signs community letter to HHS Secretary Azar regarding fetal tissue research (12/21/18)
- AAI signs community letter to House Oversight and Government Reform Committee regarding fetal tissue research (12/13/18)
- AAI letter to the Department of Transportation regarding the transportation of animals for biomedical research (10/04/18)
- AAI signs coalition letter opposing new federal restrictions on fetal tissue research (09/10/18)
- AAI President JoAnne Flynn issues statement regarding Trump Administration Travel Ban (07/17/18)
- AAI submits comments to NIH on reducing regulatory burden in animal research (06/12/18)
- AAI provides written testimony to the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee on FY 2019 funding for NIH (05/18/18)
- AAI provides written testimony to the House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee on FY 2019 funding for NIH (4/24/18)
- AAI issues a statement strongly opposing President Trump’s FY 2019 budget for NIH (02/12/18)
- AAI issues a statement regarding influenza (03/09/18)
2017 Letters and Comments
- AAI issues statement on the alleged HHS word ban (12/19/17)
- AAI submits letter to members of the tax reform bill Conference Committee strongly opposing elimination of the tuition waiver tax exemption for graduate students (12/08/17)
- AAI submits letter to key House leaders strongly opposing elimination of the tuition waiver tax exemption for graduate students (11/13/17)
- AAI submits letter to NIH regarding its proposed Grant Support Index (05/31/17)
- AAI provides written testimony to the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee on FY 2018 funding for NIH (05/25/17)
- AAI signs multi-organization letter to congressional leaders urging them to reject President Trump’s proposed cuts to science (05/24/17)
- AAI issues statement opposing President Trump’s proposed FY 2018 NIH budget cut (03/24/17)
- AAI provides written testimony to the House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee on FY 2018 funding for NIH (3/6/17)
- AAI joins community letter to President Trump supporting vaccine safety (02/07/17)
- AAI President Arlene Sharpe releases message to members on issues of national concern (02/01/17)
- AAI signs multi-society letter on White House Executive Order on immigration and visas (01/31/17)
2016 Letters and Comments
- AAI submits comments to NIH regarding the use of interim research products (12/6/16)
- AAI sends letter to Representatives Upton and DeGette regarding the 21st Century Cures Act (11/29/16)
- AAI provides written testimony to the House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee on FY 2017 funding for NIH (4/11/16)
- AAI provides written testimony to the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee on FY 2017 funding for NIH (4/11/16)
- AAI submits comments to NSABB regarding its draft recommendations for gain-of-function research studies (3/08/16)
2015 Letters and Comments
- AAI submits letter to Senator Cassidy expressing concern about efforts to legislate the re-allocation of funding within the NIH portfolio (12/4/15)
- AAI submits comments on simplifying NIH grant application instructions (9/22/15)
- AAI comments on proposed changes to the Animal Welfare Act Regulations (8/21/15)
- AAI submits comments to NIH on its framework for a strategic plan (8/14/15)
- AAI responds to APHIS Notice of Petition on defining alternatives in animal research (5/28/15)
- AAI submits comments to USDA request for information on reducing regulatory burdens (5/18/15)
- AAI responds to NIH Request for Information on optimizing funding policies to improve the impact and sustainability of biomedical research (5/15/15)
- AAI letter to Senator Durbin endorsing the American Cures Act (3/9/15)
- AAI letter to Senator Mikulski endorsing the Accelerating Biomedical Research Act (3/9/15)
- AAI letter to Representatives DeLauro and Higgins endorsing the Accelerating Biomedical Research Act (3/9/15)
- AAI issues statement in strong support of routine and seasonal vaccinations (3/6/15)
- AAI submits comments to NIH on a proposed Emeritus Award for senior investigators (3/6/15)
2014 Letters and Comments
- AAI responds to NIH Request for Information on reagent-related barriers to reproducibility (12/19/14)
- AAI letter to NIH regarding the BRAIN Initiative (10/15/14)
- AAI letter to Representatives DeLauro and Higgins endorsing the Accelerating Biomedical Research Act (9/23/14)
- AAI letter to Representatives Smith and Bass on the Ebola epidemic (9/15/14)
- AAI letter to Senators Harkin, Alexander, and Moran, on the Ebola epidemic (9/12/14)
- AAI statement on the Ebola epidemic (9/12/2014)
- AAI letter to Senator Harkin endorsing the Accelerating Biomedical Research Act (8/4/2014)
- AAI letter to Senators Carper and Coburn in opposition to the Conference Accountability Act (7/29/14)
- AAI letter to the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare in response to its Proposed Guidance Regarding Significant Changes to Ongoing Animal Activities (5/12/14)
- AAI letter to Senator Durbin endorsing the American Cures Act (3/10/14)
- AAI submits testimony to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs regarding federal spending on conference and travel (for the hearing record of 01/14/14)
ADVOCACY RESOURCES
Interested in communicating the value of immunology and biomedical research to policymakers or members of the public? These resources will help you do just that.
CPA NewsBrief: sign up for the members only CPA NewsBrief, an e-publication that focuses specifically on AAI public affairs (to sign up, email Jake Schumacher at
jschumacher@aai.org)
- Sign up for e-action alerts to receive email notifications about key issues and step-by-step instructions on how to make your voice heard
- Locate and contact your Congressional Representatives
- State and District NIH factsheets
- Best Practices for advocating and visiting your Members of Congress
- How to advocate on social media
- Federal Funding Report
- Handout: “The Value of Federally Funded Biomedical & Biological Research”
- Factsheet: “Animal Research Saves Lives”
- Factsheet: “Humanized Mouse Models: Using Human Cells to Conquer Disease”
VISIT CAPITOL HILL WITH AAI
AAI is happy to take AAI members to Capitol Hill to advocate for NIH and biomedical research. If you are going to be in the Washington, D.C., area, contact us to let us know that you are interested in meeting with your Congressional delegation.
Step 1: Contact Senior Manager of Science Policy and Legislative Affairs Jake Schumacher (jschumacher@aai.org) and let him know that you would like to go to Capitol Hill and the dates you are available. (AAI will be in touch with you to schedule a mutually agreeable date)
Step 2: AAI will contact your Congressional delegation and schedule your meetings.
Step 3: AAI will put together everything you need for a successful Hill visit, including talking points and items to hand out to the offices you visit.
Step 4: AAI Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs Lauren Gross will escort you to your appointments and help guide you through your meetings.
It’s that simple!
WORKING WITH FASEB
AAI works both independently and closely with the Federation of American Societies For Experimental Biology (FASEB) to advance biomedical research, immunology, and the interests of AAI members.
AAI is a founding member of FASEB. FASEB has 28 member societies and represents more than 115,000 researchers.
AAI Representative to the FASEB Board (2022–2023)
AAI Members Serving on FASEB Board Standing Committees and Subcommittees (2022–2023)