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ASN Health and Nutrition Policy Newsletter
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Action Alert: Ask Congress to Approve 2017 Funding Increases for NIH and Other Agencies
Click here to call or email your Senators and Representatives to strongly urge them to approve the 2017 budget that includes a proposed $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $25 million more for agriculture research, and new funds for the National Science Foundation. NIH and other agencies are currently operating under a "continuing resolution" (CR) because the last Congress failed to pass the bills that included these increases. These much needed funding increases will be lost if Congress doesn't vote on the bills before April 28 (the date the current CR expires). |
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Congressional Action
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American Health Care Act Progress
After Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and other House leadership introduced the repeal and replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the bill went straight to mark-up without hearings or a report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). After a nearly 18-hour markup, the Ways and Means Committee approved several tax-related provisions in the American Health Care Act that would provide tax breaks to health insurers, indoor tanning salons, and drug companies. The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed its legislation to repeal and replace the ACA through reconciliation, including the repeal of the Prevention and Public Health Fund after Fiscal Year 2018 and other such programs. Several amendments were offered to improve the bill but all were defeated. Votes for passage of the American Health Care Act have been for the most part along party lines, except in the Budget Committee that narrowly passed the bill before it heads to the House floor.
The fast track movement of the bill slowed when the CBO issued a report that estimated over 14 million individuals would lose their insurance by 2018, 21 million by 2020, and 24 million by 2024 The estimated loss of insurance for these individuals results from eliminating the mandate to buy insurance, higher premiums for the next three years, smaller subsidies for lower income individuals, and reduced Medicaid coverage. The estimated savings is $323 billion over 10 years. Following the CBO report, the President and key Republican leaders suggested putting on the brakes until alternative approaches that would not negatively impact the number of individuals currently receiving health insurance are found.
House Leaders Introduce Health Care-Related Bills
House Committee on Education and the Workforce leaders introduced two bills to advance patient-centered health care reform: 1) The Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act (H.R. 1313) provides
regulatory
clarity
on employee wellness programs and 2) the Self-Insurance Protection Act (H.R. 1304) that permits employers to continue to offer workers more flexible health care plans through
self-insurance
.
House Ag Committee Holds Hearings on Farm Bill Topics
Among the Farm Bill-related hearings held was the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research hearing to highlight the importance of agricultural research in ensuring that American agriculture remains competitive and capable of addressing growing needs around the world. The Subcommittee Chairman, Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13), noted that investments in agricultural research have led to great gains in productivity over the past century, but public funding is on the decline. It is important for nutrition research scientists, especially those supported by USDA grant programs, to let Chairman Davis know of the importance of nutrition research to understanding the basic nutrient needs of Americans and how the food supply contributes to the health and well-being of Americans across the life cycle.
The House Agriculture committee held a hearing on March 21 to discuss nutrition distribution programs under the Farm Bill. The hearing was recorded and can be viewed online.
The Next Farm Bill: The Future of SNAP is the title of a public hearing scheduled for March 28 by the Subcommittee on Nutrition of the House Committee on Agriculture. A live audio/video will be made available at the time of the hearing.
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Administrative Action
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President Trump's Budget Greatly Reduces NIH Research and Health Funding
President Donald J. Trump issued "
America First: A Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again
"
which
cuts $54 billion in non-defense discretionary (NDD) spending across the government
to significantly increase the budgets for the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs. Cuts in expenditures at the Environmental Protection Agency (-31%), State Department (-29%), Department of Agriculture (USDA) (-21%), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (-18%), and other non-military programs help pay for these enhancements.
The President's budget plan would cut DHHS by $15.1 billion, a nearly 18% decrease from 2017 levels. This funding level excludes certain mandatory spending changes but includes additional funds for program integrity and implementing the 21st Century CURES Act. Of great concern is the reduction of $5.8 billion for the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) FY 2018 spending
(nearly 20 percent)
. The proposed budget suggests "a major reorganization of NIH's Institutes and Centers to help focus resources on the highest priority research and training activities, including: eliminating the Fogarty International Center; consolidating the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality within NIH; and other consolidations and structural changes across NIH organizations and activities." The fiscal plan also "reduces administrative costs and rebalances Federal contributions to research funding."
The budget for DHHS proposes "reforms the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through a new $500 million block grant to increase State flexibility and focus on the leading public health challenges specific to each State." The other area of major cuts is in health professions and nursing training programs that would lose $403 million because "they lack evidence that they significantly improve the Nation's health workforce." Health workforce activities include scholarships and loan repayments in exchange for service in areas of the U.S. where a shortage of health professionals will continue.
For the USDA, the President's proposed 2018 budget requests $17.9 billion for USDA, a $4.7 billion decrease from 2017. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program will receive $6.2 billion to serve all projected participants and about $350 million will be provided for USDA's flagship competitive research program, the Agricultural and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). The budget plan also focuses in-house research funding within the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to the highest priority agriculture and food issues such as increasing farming productivity, sustaining natural resources, including those within rural communities, and addressing food safety and nutrition priorities. The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education program is eliminated, as it "lacks evidence that it is being effectively implemented to reduce food insecurity."
The release of the Administration's budget proposal is the first step in the lengthy federal budget and appropriations process. A complete White House FY 2018 budget will be sent to Congress in May. That version will likely have additional information about the proposed cuts and detailed budget tables. None of the cuts that were proposed this morning can become law unless Congress approves them.
Congress finalizes the budget after careful examination of the President's plan and the needs of Americans.
Many members of Congress have said the budget proposal is "dead on arrival." FASEB, which ASN is a member of, issued this statement urging Congress to reject the Administration's budget proposal.
Gottlieb Nominated for FDA Commissioner
Dr. Scott Gottlieb has been chosen to be the next commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He is a practicing physician, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and a former FDA deputy commissioner for medical and scientific affairs from 2005-2007. Dr. Gottlieb is a proponent of changing the FDA drug and medical device approval process.
CDC 500 Cities Project
The 500 Cities Project is a partnership between CDC's Division of Population Health in the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the CDC Foundation, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This public, interactive website allows users to retrieve, view and explore uniformly-defined selected city and census tract-level data for the largest 500 U.S. cities for conditions, behaviors, and risk factors that have a substantial impact on population health. The interactive mapping application also enables users to zoom in to their neighborhood and explore their local data in the larger context of their city.
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National Initiatives
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NAS Breakthroughs 2030 Study
The National Academies (NAS) has officially announced the Breakthroughs 2030 study to produce a 10-year agenda for food and agriculture research. This study is sponsored by Supporters of Agriculture Research (SoAR), which ASN is a member of, the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), and the USDA. Nominations for the study's lead committee are due by March 22.
Food Procurement Toolkit
Voices for Healthy Kids, a joint project of the American Heart Association and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has developed
a new toolkit
to support the adoption of healthy procurement/food service guideline policies. The Voices for Healthy Kids toolkit offers insights and suggestions for advocates on recruiting, engaging, and mobilizing communities in support of vending and food service guidelines policies.
Blueprint for a National Food Strategy
The Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic and the Vermont Law School Center for Agriculture and Food Systems issued a report, "Blueprint for a National Food Strategy," which attests to the need for more coordination and efficiency in the food system.
APHA Award Nominations
The American Public Health Association (APHA) is accepting nominations for several awards which will be presented at the 2017 APHA Annual Meeting and Expo. Nominations are due by May 5.
PHF Award Nominations
The Public Health Foundation has announced its Future of Population Health Awards. Applications are due April 21.
2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Public Meeting
HHS is holding its third Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee
meeting
on
March 23 from 8:00am-5:30pm ET. You can attend the meeting online via webcast.
Funding Opportunities
USDA NIFA Food Safety Challenge Area Grants Available
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is seeking grant funding applications for the Food Safety Challenge Area of its 'Agriculture and Food Research Initiative' (AFRI). NIFA anticipates having approximately $11 million in total available grant funds for the program in FY 2017.
The AFRI Food Safety Challenge Area
supports integrated research, education, and extension projects that address food safety challenges. The program seeks to empower transdisciplinary teams to develop, refine, and disseminate science-based knowledge about food and agricultural management and production practices that can reduce or eliminate the risk of antimicrobial resistance. The RFA also supports developing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of both current and future food scientists and members of the food safety workforce. The deadline for applications is June 21, 2017.
Voices for Healthy Kids Incubator Funding
Voices for Healthy Kids has announced a Strategic Campaign Fund Incubator opportunity to support innovative advocacy approaches that align with Voices for Healthy Kids policy priorities. Applications are due March 31 at 5:00pm ET.
Fresh Start Community Grants Program
The United Fresh Start Foundation is now accepting applications for its new Community Grants Program, to increase children's access to fresh fruit and vegetables. The Community Grants Program extends the Foundation's work beyond the school day, with the goal to provide children in communities across the country with access to fresh fruit and vegetables afterschool, on weekends, during summer breaks and in other creative venues. Applications are due by April 20.
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International
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Traffic Light Food Labeling in Europe
Six major food companies, Coca-Cola, Mars, Mondelez, Nestle, PepsiCo, and Unilever, are planning to add traffic light labeling, like the traffic light style label in the United Kingdom, to their food products sold in Europe. This type of label highlights certain nutrients of concern and associates them with traffic light colors red, green, and yellow urging caution for certain foods. This is part of a push for consistent front-of-pack nutrition labeling across Europe.
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