The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) commends House and Senate Appropriations leaders for negotiating final fiscal year (FY) 2020 appropriations bills that reflect a continued, strong national commitment to federal research and development (R&D) and to public health programs across multiple departments and agencies. ASM and its 30,000 members especially thank House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), and Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), and the respective Appropriations Subcommittee Chairs, for their efforts to make science and health a priority and for providing meaningful increases to agencies that fund basic science, medical research, and public health programs.
Federal investments provide the lifeblood for research, discovery, and innovation in the United States, driving one of the most powerful engines for American prosperity and global leadership. Robust, sustained, and predictable increases for federal R&D and public health programs advance the microbial sciences, save lives from infectious diseases, and ensure our global health security.
ASM also thanks Congressional leaders for including the provisions from H.R. 3584/S. 3049, the Laboratory Access for Beneficiaries (LAB) Act, in the final omnibus package. These provisions will protect seniors' access to critical diagnostic tests by facilitating more accurate reporting of private market data that informs reimbursement for diagnostic tests.
We urge Congress to move swiftly to pass these bills and send them to the President for his signature.
