1. Rally for Medical Research Hill Day Training Webinar
September 11, 2015
1:00 p.m. EDT

2. Rally for Medical Research Hill Day
Today’s Speakers Mary Lee Watts, MPH, RD American Association for Cancer Research Mary Jo Hoeskema Population Association of America Dave Moore Association of American Medical Colleges Christopher Kush Soapbox Consulting, LLC

3. Rally Hill Day Mission
To mobilize a broad coalition of groups from the medical research advocacy community to urge Congress to invest in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to improve health, spur more progress, inspire more hope and save more lives.

4. History of the Rally for Medical Research Hill Day
We’re looking to build on the momentum generated from last year’s activities to highlight the importance of an increased investment in the NIH.
In Sept 2014, more than 300 groups from across the medical research advocacy community came together to advocate for an increased investment in the NIH for the health and economic security of our nation.
This unprecedented effort continued the momentum generated from the Rally for Medical Research, which garnered nearly 10,000 participants in April 2013 to call on Congress to make NIH funding a national priority.

5. Rally Hill Day 2015 Stats
More than 300 organizations and institutions have signed on in support of the 2015 Rally for Medical Research Hill Day
More than 300 individuals from these partnering groups will meet with Congressional offices.
Approximately 230 meetings with House and Senate offices from 40 states have been scheduled
**Will need to update these stats closer to the Webinar

6. Rally 2015 Hill Day Calendar of Events
Rally Hill Day Training Session Wednesday, Sept. 16, 3:00 – 4:30 PM Mandarin Oriental Hotel Grand Ballroom A-B
Reception to Celebrate Medical Research
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 5:30 – 7:30 PM Kennedy Caucus Room, Russell Senate Office Building, Room 325
*Dress Code for all events is business attire*

7. Rally Hill Day 2015 Calendar of Events
Rally Hill Day Kick-Off Breakfast Thursday. Sept. 17, 7:30 – 9:00 AM Mandarin Oriental Hotel Grand Ballroom A-B Rally Hill Day Congressional Meetings Thursday Sept. 17, 9:45 – 5:00 PM Capitol Hill

8. Online Communications and Social Media Outreach
Rally for Medical Research Website:
“Resources” tab – “Hill Day Materials”
“Get Involved” page includes:
Grassroots Toolkit Rally Style Guide Sample Action Alert Social Media Opportunities
Facebook Page:
Twitter
Hashtag: #RallyMedRes

9. Rally Hill Day “National Day of Action”
Send an (action alert) to or call congressional offices,
Tweet members of Congress with a message or post on the member’s Facebook page,
Write letters to the editor and place op-eds in newspapers
Highlight the suggested timeline for coordinated action

10. Washington, DC: A Challenging Environment
Continued partisan bickering and posturing
Fiscal standoffs over budget caps and sequestration
Presidential and congressional elections looming

11. The NIH Funding and Biomedical Inflation Discrepancy
NIH funding was essentially flat from 2003 to 2013, and continues to lag behind the rate of cost growth for health research
Across the board cuts, known as sequestration went into effect in March 2013, inflicting a $1.6 billion cut to the agency
NIH funding remains below pre-sequestration levels
NIH currently funded at approximately $30.1 billion after approximately $150 M increase (.5 percent) in FY 2015 funding
In 2015, NIH will fund almost 1,000 fewer research projects than it did in 2010.

12. Momentum for Medical Research Funding
Despite more than a dozen years of flat funding, the House and Senate have shown significant, bipartisan support for the National Institutes of Health this year:
Proposed increases for the NIH by both chambers
21st Century Cures Initiative
Legislation would provide an additional $8.75 billion mandatory funding to the NIH ($1.75 Billion per year) to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in fiscal years 2016 – 2020.
Senate NIH Caucus Formation
Launched in May 2015 by Senators Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Goal of the caucus is to boost support for the NIH
President Obama’s FY 2016 Budget Request
Proposes $31.3 Billion for NIH ($1 billion increase)
House Approves FY 2016 Labor HHS Bill
31.2 billion for the NIH, an increase of $1.1 billion (3.6 percent)
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves FY 2016 Labor HHS bill
$2 billion increase for the NIH (6.6 percent)

13. Congress’ Fall Agenda
Congress will need to agree on a plan to fund the government before the start of the new fiscal year, which begins on Oct. 1
A short-term spending bill or continuing resolution (CR) is the likeliest scenario to keep the government running past Oct. 1.
A CR would provide policymakers additional time to finalize the fiscal year (FY 2016) spending bills for agencies, including the NIH.

14. Congress’ Fall Agenda
The CR is expected to maintain level funding and last 2 to 3 months –pushing the larger debate on spending levels for FY 2016 into mid-December
Déjà vu All Over Again

15. The Fiscal Year 2016 Endgame Remains Unclear
Senate Democrats have vowed to oppose all spending bills until a larger budget agreement is reached
Budget cap relief, Planned Parenthood funding and sequestration among the hot topics

16. Congress’ Other Priorities
Iran Nuclear Deal
Affordable Care Act Repeal Efforts
Pope’s Visit
Debt ceiling Debate

17. Important Time to Highlight Value of Medical Research
The next few months present a critical window for the medical research community to underscore the value of medical research in saving and improving lives.
The Rally for Medical Research Hill Day will be an important opportunity for the NIH advocacy community to highlight the critical need for increased funding for the agency.

18. Our Message to Congress
Provide robust, sustainable and predictable funding increases for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in fiscal year 2016 and beyond

19. Rally for Medical Research Hill Day Key Messaging Points
Thank Members of Congress for their support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and for their willingness to explore innovative ways to increase the NIH budget.
Ask Members of Congress to provide robust, sustainable and predictable funding increases for the NIH in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 and beyond.
Ask Members of Congress to agree on a new budget framework that supports stronger investments in the NIH.

20. & HEALTH of Americans HEALTH of our Economy 1.35 million
NOW is the time to increase our investment in NIH:
Since 2004, the NIH budget has failed to keep pace with medical inflation.
As a result, fewer competitive research project grants are being awarded.
Since 2004, the NIH budget has failed to keep pace with inflation, losing nearly 25% of its purchasing power.
As a result, fewer and fewer competitive research grants are being awarded.
Talented individuals are becoming discouraged from pursuing careers in science, moving abroad, or leaving the field.
24% ↓
NIH-FUNDED RESEARCH is the best way to improve the
HEALTH of Americans
&
HEALTH of our Economy
1.35 million
402,000 jobs / $60 billion
deaths prevented annually due to NIH-supported research on cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
added to the economy thanks to NIH-supported research in all 50 states and 90 percent of congressional districts.
1 additional year
$95 trillion
of longevity added every 6 years thanks in large part to NIH-funded research.
is the economic value of the gains in life expectancy seen from 1970 to 2000.

21. Additional Talking Points
Medical research funded through the NIH, the largest source of funding for medical research in the world, has been a driving force behind decades of advances that have improved the health of millions of Americans.
Funding provided to the NIH does more than just save lives – it fuels the US economy and creates jobs in our communities. Every $1 in NIH funding generates about $2.21 in local economic growth
Could also emphasize the point that in addition to NIH being great for the health and economic well-being of Americans, it is also important for global leadership and competitiveness.

22. Strategic Map

23. Your Schedule
Your mobile app code works at the website: (same as your preliminary schedule code). Please be sure to check your preliminary schedule when it arrives.
Call the Help Desk if you run behind on your meetings or encounter any other challenges.
Your team member names. Nobody will be alone in their meetings.
Note: staff names in parenthesis and co-sponsorship/committee information at the end of the lines. (Also the meeting location for your specific meetings are noted here.)

24. Capitol Hill Map Wear standard business dress. Bring an ID with you.
Liquids are not allowed in the Capitol or Visitors Center but beverages are OK in other buildings.
Entrances (including accessible entrances) food, and Metro locations are all marked.
We appreciate your participation and your flexibility. Please prepare yourself to remain upbeat despite potential meeting changes. The Help Desk can provide assistance with a simple phone call.

25. Soapbox Mobile App
Preliminary App Codes will go out via by COB on Friday (today).

26. Other Helpful Websites
Metro Website–
U.S. House of Representatives:
U.S. Senate:

27. Q & A
Thank you for participating in the Rally for Medical Research Hill Day 2015!