ARVO Advocates Urge Congressional Action on FY24 NEI Appropriations and FY25 Funding Increase

The participants in this year's ARVO Advocacy Day included members of ARVO's Science Communications Fellows Program along with AMPC Members ARVO's Advocacy Day Participants

On January 26, ARVO’s Annual Meeting Planning Committee (AMPC) held its Capitol Hill Advocacy Day, while Congress finalizes FY24 appropriations bills for the federal government, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Eye Institute (NEI). Currently, operating under a Continuing Resolution (CR), the federal government maintains spending at last year’s funding levels.

ARVO’s domestic and international advocates—including AMPC representatives, Science Communication Training Fellows, and ARVO’s Advocacy and Outreach Committee participants––conducted nearly 80 Congressional office visits, including key committees Members with NIH funding and oversight jurisdiction. Nine advocates had participated in AEVR’s Emerging Vision Scientists program which provided them the advocation expertise required to communicate the value of vision research with Congress.

NAEVR Executive Director Dan Ignaszewski prepared advocates for challenging fiscal and political conversations given the federal government is still working on FY24 appropriations. This preparation allowed for the details and talking points required to educate Hill staff on the value of their research and the importance of federal funding for the NEI.

From left: Shervonne Poleon, PhD (University of Alabama Birmingham), Kevin Chan, PhD (New York University Grossman School of Medicine), Lizzy Burke, office of Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Yuen Ping Toco Chui, PhD (New York Eye and Ear Infirmary)	Faith Morgan, center, office of Cong. Kweisi Mfume (D-MD) with Olivia Uddin, MD, PhD, Whitney Sambhariya, MD, PhD, Poonam Naik, PhD, and Yingzi Xiong, PhD, all from Johns Hopkins University/Wilmer Eye Institute
From left: ARVO’s Jason Spessard, Yutao Liu, PhD (Medical College of Georgia), Linjiang Lou, PhD (Emory University School of Medicine), Xingjun Fan, PhD (Augusta University), Manuela Bartoli, PhD (Medical College of Georgia), and Jocilyn Gilbert, office of Cong. Hank Johnson (D-GA)	David Krizaj, PhD (University of Utah), left, with Justin Anthony, office of Senator Mike Lee (R-UT)
From left: Mervyn Thomas, MD, PhD (University of Leicester), Qi Cui MD, PhD (University of Pennsylvania), Matthew Clarkin, office of Cong. Brian Fitzpatrick (D-PA), and Shaohua Pi, PhD (University of Pittsburgh)	From left: Xiao Lin, MD, PhD (Baylor College of Medicine), Dorota Stankowska, PhD (North Texas Eye Research Institute), Gerhard Garhoefer, MD (Medical University of Vienna), Alexa Roberts, office of Cong. Michael Burgess (R-TX), Danielle Robertson, OD, PhD (UT Southwestern Medical Center) and Christophe Ribelayga, PhD (University of Houston)
From left: Mengyu Wang PhD (Schepens Eye Research Institute), Sanjana Rana, office of Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), Fuensanta Vera-Diaz PhD, OD (New England College of Optometry), and Paulo Bispo, PhD (Mass Eye and Ear)	Dan Ignaszewski, left and Yan Li, PhD (Oregon Health & Science University/Casey Eye Institute), right with Cecily Hahn, office of Cong. Suzan DelBene (D-WA)