News from the Hill: June 30, 2022

Thursday, June 30, 2022

The House managed to abide by its aggressive schedule to prepare, consider, and advance fiscal year (FY) 2023 appropriations bills. At the end of June House Appropriations Committee held markups for research related bills, including the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration, which continued to support key research programs. The House also advanced the FY23 Labor-Health and Human Services-Education (L-HHS) Appropriations Bill, with ongoing proposed investment in research and public health programs. A summary of key items is included below.

Agency Funding Levels

$10.5 billion for the CDC, an increase of $2 billion over FY 2022.
$47.5 billion for NIH, an increase of $2.5 billion over FY 2022.
$2.75 billion for ARPA-H, an increase of $1.75 billion over FY 2022.
$385 million for AHRQ, an increase of $35 million over FY 2022.

Committee Recommendations on Specific Programs

Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program.— The Committee includes no less than $626,059,000 for the CTSA Program, an increase of $19,413,000 above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. The Committee reiterates that CTSA funding, including these additional resources, are intended, to the greatest extent possible, to enhance support for CTSA hubs so that they can continue to effectively provide important collaborative national research infrastructure, train the next generation of physician-scientists, and provide important local services and partnerships. The Committee applauds the CTSA program for its contributions to the rapid response to COVID–19, efforts to address health disparities and deliver innovative care in rural areas, and to provide critical support for other national priorities and translational research activities.

Institutional Development Awards (IDeA).—The Committee pro- vides $423,076,000 for IDeA, $13,119,000 above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. The program increases our Nation’s biomedical research capability by improving research in States that have historically been less successful in obtaining biomedical research funding. IDeA funds only merit-based, peer-reviewed research that meets NIH research objectives in the 23 IDeA States and Puerto Rico. NIH IDeA is comprised of these key initiatives: Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) and IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE). The program aims to strengthen an institution’s ability to support biomedical research, enhance the competitiveness of investigators in securing research funding, and enable clinical and translational research that addresses the needs of medically underserved communities. COBRE is a proven successful method to increase the number of new scientists at institutions in States eligible for IDeA awards. The Committee recognizes the success of the COBRE program and encourages NIH to continue working to increase the number of new scientists at institutions in eligible IDeA States.

Full Spectrum of Medical Research.—The Committee recognizes the emerging role that the full spectrum of medical research is playing in across NIH Institutes and Centers to ensure that advancements in basic science are translated into innovative therapies and diagnostic tools, and improved care and public health information. The Committee notes the relevance of the CTSA program to a variety on ongoing and emerging NIH research activities, including the importance of training and career development to adequately enhance the translational science workforce.