Max G. Bronstein, Director of Science PolicyMarch 18, 2013

RESEARCH FUNDING IN A TIME OF FISCAL CHAOS

Research!America: 24 Years of Putting Research on the Public Agenda

Making Health Research A Higher Priority

Research!America’s Greatest Hits:

R!A as a convener

Unprecedented Opportunities for Breakthroughs & Prevention

“If you think research is expensive, try disease.”

-Mary Lasker

Where do your taxes go?

• Total: $3.6 T• Entitlements: $2T• Science: $75 B (2%)•

The Debt Problem

Solutions?

Research At the Breaking Point

NCI Impact

• NIH FY 2013 estimate on cancer research:$5.4 B*

• Sequestration could reduce spending by $270M!

*http://report.nih.gov/categorical_spending.aspx

Fiscal Fights

• Current budget (Continuing Resolution) Expires: March 27

• Senate has proposed NIH bump, but sequestration would wipe out any increase

• House wants an even deeper cut, beyond sequestration

Budgets Galore

Upcoming Fiscal Fights

• Hit Debt Ceiling: May 18

Questions?

Why advocate?

• Advocacy is patriotic• We are all patients• Research needs YOU• The right advocate at the right time can have a huge impact

• Advocacy determines priorities

“Let’s make the parties end mindless sequesters, stupid debt ceiling fights, and ongoing abdication of governing responsibilities. Let’s insist that our legislator’s come to grips with our deficit problem, put entitlement and tax reform on the table, and make investments in science, technology, innovation, and research among our nation’s highest priorities.”

Research!America Chair and Former Congressman John Edward Porter

Effective Advocacy

• KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE• Make your message matter• Make your policy fit their politics

(framing)• Use data, but tell your personal story• Jargon is a barrier - avoid it!• Time is short, attention spans are

shorter, keep it concise

Advocacy Targets

House Appropriations

Senate Appropriations

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairs

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA-01)

Handling Pushback

• Avoid traps that get you ‘off message’• You are an expert on cancer and related

issues – stick to what you know• Cutting medical research is not a deficit

reduction strategy!• Jobs=growth• Stopping disease=cost savings

• Follow-up – build a relationship

Wrapping up

• We face huge fiscal challenges, but that is no excuse to cut funding for research

• We can solve the debt, but must put compromise ahead of politics

• Advocacy is critical for research and patients to thrive

• Visit: www.researchamerica.org

Thanks for listening!

Questions welcome:mbronstein@researchamerica.orgDirect Line: 571-482-2704