On Tuesday, March 15, 2011 APS President Peter Wagner, Past President Gary Sieck, President-elect Joey Granger and Science Policy Chair John Chatham met with several Congressional offices to discuss funding for biomedical research, the humane use of animals in research, and publications access.
The meetings took place at a critical point in the appropriations process, as Members of Congress worked to avoid a government shutdown and complete spending bills for the remainder of FY 2011. In a challenging fiscal climate that is focused on cutting federal spending, members of the APS leadership were assured that investment in research is a priority for many Members of Congress, but that no federal programs will be exempt from consideration as Congress seeks to achieve long-term deficit reduction.
Drs. Wagner, Sieck, Granger and Chatham thanked Members of Congress for their support of federally funded research and emphasized the need for predictable, sustainable budget increases to allow scientists to capitalize on decades of federal investment in research. APS leadership also stressed the important role that federal funding plays in training the next generation of researchers and expressed concern that dwindling funding and dismal success rates may discourage young scientists from pursuing academic careers.
In the Senate Drs. Wagner, Sieck, Granger and Chatham met with staff in the offices of Senators Richard Shelby (R-AL), Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Al Franken (D-MN). In the House of Representatives, they met with Representative Brian Bilbray (R-CA) and staff for Representative Susan Davis (D-CA).