Greetings!

Capitol Hill remains closed to visitors as summer approaches, but congressional offices remain busy. In late May, we expect to see President Biden's detailed budget proposal. This means legislative offices are working hard on the appropriations process and constituents should contact their legislators to remind them the importance of federally funded programs and research for the gastrointestinal illness community. If you would like information on how to do this, please contact us at advocacy@iffgd.org.

Highlights from this issue:

  • Advocacy Opportunities - please note the two Advocacy events below where you can join others to contact legislators on issues important to the GI community.

  • NIDDK STEP-UP Program - The NIH continues to remain committed to diversity in healthcare research. The STEP-UP program, highlighted below, is a unique opportunity for high school and undergraduate students to learn more about biomedical research.


Be active. Be heard. Make a difference.
Advocate Opportunities
The following are opportunities to join others in an advocacy event.
Click the event to learn more and register.
FASTER Act signed into law

  • On April 23, 2021, the Food Allergy, Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act of 2021 was signed into law. This bill expands the definition of major food allergens for purposes of certain food-labeling requirements to specifically include sesame. In addition, this bill would mandate that the Department of Health and Human Services must report on specific information related to food allergy research and data collection activities. The bill text is available here.
Join IFFGD's Disparities and Inequalities in Healthcare Focus Group
We would like to increase our knowledge of the disparities in healthcare for those living with GI disorders among persons of varied racial and ethnic backgrounds as well as other social determinants of health.

IFFGD hopes to gain a broader perspective on the topics patients feel are most important when receiving equitable healthcare and find ways to address the gap needs. 

Our goal is to have a focus group meeting every other month starting in late June. 

If you are interested in joining the Disparities and Inequalities in Healthcare focus group, please email us at iffgd@iffgd.org. 

Keeping informed on the federal budget process is important for all of us as constituents. IFFGD works diligently to stay versed on the appropriations process each year. We will keep you updated as the appropriations process continues for fiscal year (FY) 2022. Each FY runs from October 1st through September 30th of the following year.

In early April, the White House issued its top-line discretionary spending proposal for FY 2022. The blueprint provides less detail than a typical budget submission, a more detailed proposal is expected in late May. Highlights of the blueprint include proposed spending increases on domestic discretionary programs such as public health, research, education, and the environment; with less of an emphasis on security/defense spending.
  • $8.7 billion in budget authority for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an increase of $1.6 billion over FY 2021. Combined with annual funding from HHS’s Prevention and Public Health Fund, this would push CDC’s annual program level toward the $10 billion mark.
  • $51 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an increase of $9 billion. The NIH budget proposal includes the creation of a new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) housed with NIH and supported by a requested $6.5 billion budget.
  • $670 million for the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, an increase of $267 million above FY 2021.
  • $10.7 billion to address the national opioid crisis, an increase of $3.9 billion above FY 2021.
  • An additional $600 million annually to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI) through the Department of Education, and additional investments in HBCU/MSIs at other agencies.
  • $882 million for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Program, an increase of $67 million over FY 2021.

Find more information on these budget and appropriation updates here.
NIDDK Step Up Diversity Training Programs for the Youth
During the 2021 IFFGD Advocacy Event, Project Coordinator Marissa Lombardi spoke with Lawrence Agodoa, M.D., FACP, Director of the Office of Minority Health Research Coordination at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), about the STEP-UP program. The STEP-UP Program provides hands-on summer research experience for high school and undergraduate students interested in exploring research careers. You can view the video here.

Policies and priorities related to healthcare, research, treatment, guidelines, and much more are continually changing. We will provide monthly updates on items relevant to the GI community.

Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2021 - H.R.3108 - This bill was originally introduced into the house as "To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the availability of medical nutrition therapy services under the Medicare program." This bill was re-introduced on May 11, 2021.

Find more information on these health policy updates here.
The Diabetes Mellitus Interagency Coordinating Committee (DMICC) is chaired by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and includes other members of the Department of Health and Human Services and other federal agencies that support diabetes-related activities. DMICC meetings, held several times a year, help members identify emerging issues and opportunities and develop ways in which different government components can work together and build upon each other’s expertise and resources. This approach helps ensure that federal diabetes activities are coordinated and not duplicated, as well as stimulates collaborations where appropriate.

To learn more about the work of DMICC visit their website here.
‌
International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD)
414-964-1799 | iffgd@iffgd.org | www.iffgd.org
IFFGD is a nonprofit organization.
We rely on donor support to fund research and to provide reliable information and support to those affected by chronic gastrointestinal disorders