AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD, and Chief Public Policy Officer Danielle Turnipseed, JD, MHSA, MPP, issued the following statement in response to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies spending bill (S. 2624) approved on July 27 by the Senate Appropriations Committee:
“The AAMC commends the Senate Appropriations Committee for working in a bipartisan manner to draft and approve an FY 2024 spending bill that protects funding for the National Institutes of Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration health workforce programs, and other key public health programs and agencies in a year when appropriators had to work within the limits of impractical budget allocations due to the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. We also greatly appreciate the bipartisan commitment by the committee to avoid problematic policy provisions that would impose arbitrary restrictions on efforts to advance research, education, public health, and health care.
While the proposed legislation represents an important step forward in the process, the needs and opportunities across these key areas far outpace the resources the bill would provide. Strengthening our nation’s commitment to medical research toward new cures, treatments, diagnostics, and preventive interventions; expanding and adapting our health workforce to address pervasive and persistent challenges in patients’ access to care; and fortifying our public health and health infrastructure in the wake of existing and emerging threats are urgent national priorities. We cannot afford to fall short on the investments we make – our communities deserve this support.
The AAMC urges lawmakers to continue their bipartisan efforts and ensure robust investment in these vital programs and agencies to protect and improve the nation’s health security.”