Wrap-up of 114th Congress
A Second Continuing Resolution for FY17
Congress wrapped up the lame-duck session, approving an FY17 continuing resolution (CR) that freezes most discretionary spending through April 28, 2017.
The CR fully funds the FY17 NIH Innovation Fund in the 21st Century Cures Act, which Congress approved December 7 (see item below). The measure provides $352 million for the NIH Innovation Fund, as well as $20 million for the Food and Drug Administration Innovation Account and $500 million for state grants to respond to the opioid crisis.
The NIH funding comprises:
- $40 million for the Precision Medicine Initiative;
- $10 million for the BRAIN Initiative;
- $300 million for cancer research; and
- $2 million for clinical research in regenerative medicine (with a one-to-one match of federal and non-federal funding).
21st Century Cures Act
Congress successfully passed the 21st Century Cures Act, which contains $4.8 billion in medical research funding over 10 years, as well as $1 billion over 2 years to fight opioid abuse and $500 million over 10 years for the Food and Drug Administration. The Cures Act funding is fully offset and does not count toward the budget caps, but Congress must appropriate the funds each year.
The Cures Act also creates a "Next Generation of Researchers Initiative" in the NIH Director's office to improve opportunities for new researchers, includes language establishing a new Research Policy Group, and directs federal agencies to reduce the research regulatory burden without weakening oversight in such areas as animal welfare, sub-recipient grant monitoring, and financial conflict of interest reporting.
American Innovation and Competitiveness Act
Congress also passed the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (AICA), formerly known as COMPETES. The legislation reauthorizes the National Science Foundation, reaffirms the agency's merit review process, and seeks to reduce the administrative burden on academic researchers.
Progress on the Research Regulatory Front
Congress approved three bills in the past month with provisions aimed at reducing the regulatory burden on academic institutions and their research faculty: the AICA, the 21st Century Cures Act, and the National Defense Authorization Act. AAU has compiled a list with the details.
On to the 115th Congress and the Trump Administration
The new Congress will be sworn in on Tuesday, January 3, and is scheduled to begin work immediately. The only change in the Minnesota Congressional delegation is the election of Representative-elect Jason Lewis to replace retiring Chairman John Kline in the Second Congressional District.
President-elect Trump will be sworn-in on Friday, January 20. The president-elect traditionally addresses the nation on Inauguration Day, but does not deliver a State of the Union address until the following January.
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