Alex Philippidis Senior News Editor Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

These 10 Representatives and 10 Senators Are This Year’s All Stars in Supporting Research Funding

With the $2 billion boost in NIH’s budget approved last December as part of a budget deal for the current federal fiscal year—and more importantly, with talk of another significant boost in the agency’s budget in FY2017—support for basic science research is one of the few areas that appear to transcend the hyper-partisanship that marks much of Congress’ work these days.

But it’s one thing for representatives and senators to offer words on backing basic science with big bucks. That has been increasingly the case since the 2013 federal government shutdown wrought by across-the-board spending cuts or sequestration. However, some members of Congress have proven at least as capable of matching those words with deeds as well.

Those members are the 10 representatives and 10 senators who appear on this year’s members of the GEN Congressional Hall of Fame based on their support of federal spending for research in biopharma and/or all sciences. The Hall of Fame measures that support in part through awards by groups that champion greater research spending, including industry groups, umbrella organizations focused on research advocacy, disease-based advocacy groups, and groups based outside biopharma who recognize senators and representatives for their broad overall support for research funding for all sciences.

This year’s Hall of Fame list adds a new wrinkle in measuring that support—namely participation as members or co-chairs in caucuses focused on addressing funding for biomedical research—whether in and of itself, or as part of a commitment to broader science research, or through a focus on a specific disease or class of diseases.

In a few instances, the list includes other examples of recognition, such as public praise by an institution. The list of awards and honors was compiled through online searches of the members’ biographies, as well as of announcements on organizations’ web pages, lists of past winners maintained by the organizations, and membership lists published online by the caucuses. As with GEN’s first such list in 2013, and its previous Congressional Hall of Fame last year, this list does not purport to be an exhaustive list of such honors and awards.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. Gus Bilirakis

R-FL

House Congenital Heart Caucus, founder and chairman

Bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, member

Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, member

Congressional Arthritis Caucus, member

Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease, member

Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus, member

Congressional Caucus on Diabetes, member

Congressional Mitochondrial Disease Caucus, member

Rare Disease Congressional Caucus, member

TB Elimination Caucus, member

Rare Disease Legislative Advocates, Congressional Leadership Award, 2015

Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D.

R-TX

Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, House co-chair

Congressional Arthritis Caucus, member

Congressional Caucus on the Deadliest Cancers, member

Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease, member

Congressional Crohn’s and Colitis Caucus, member

Congressional Caucus on Diabetes, member

Congressional Research and Development Caucus, member

Rare Disease Congressional Caucus, member

Parkinson’s Action Network (since integrated into The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research), Morris K. Udall Award for Public Service, 2015

Rare Disease Legislative Advocates, Congressional Leadership Award, 2013

Alzheimer’s Association, Humanitarian Award, 2012

Digestive Disease National Coalition, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2012

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) Coalition, Congressional Champion Award, 2011

Rep. Diana DeGette

D-CO

Congressional Caucus on Diabetes, co-chair

Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease, member

Congressional COPD Caucus, member

Congressional Research and Development Caucus, member

Alliance for Biosecurity, Congressional Biosecurity Champion Award, 2016

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), Howard K. Schachman Public Service Award, 2016

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2015 U.S. Representative of the Year, 2016

Prevent Cancer Foundation, Cancer Champion, 2016

Tracy’s Kids, Courage Award, 2016

Alliance for Aging Research, Claude Pepper Award for Advancing Healthy Aging, 2015

Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI), Champion for Cures Award, 2015

Hemophilia Federation of America (HFA), Champion Award, 2015

Parkinson’s Action Network (since integrated into The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research), Morris K. Udall Award for Public Service, 2015

Rare Disease Legislative Advocates, Congressional Leadership Award, 2015

Research!America, Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy, 2015

American Society of Hematology (ASH), Public Service Award, 2013

Cancer Leadership Award, presented jointly by American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), AACI, Friends of Cancer Research, and the Oncology Nursing Society, 2012

Rep. Rosa DeLauro

D-CT

Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, Senate co-chair

Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, member

Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease, member

Congressional Caucus on Diabetes, member

Congressional Ovarian Cancer Caucus, co-founder

ASBMB, Howard K. Schachman Public Service Award, 2015

Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, Visionary Empowerment award, 2015

One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC), Congressional Cancer Champion Award, 2014

Peggy Lillis Foundation, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2014

American Association for Cancer Research, invited to address Rally for Medical Research, 2013

American Association of Immunologists, Public Service Award, 2013

ASCO, AACR, AACI, and Friends of Cancer Research, honoree for continued commitment to and leadership in funding for cancer research and biomedical science, 2013

American Psychological Association, Congressional Champion Award, 2012

American Public Health Association, Distinguished Legislator of the Year, 2012

The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2012

United for Medical Research (UMR), Profile of Promise, 2011

Rep. Anna Eshoo

D-CA

Congressional Arthritis Caucus, co-chair

Congressional Caucus on the Deadliest Cancers, co-chair

Bicameral Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease, member

Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, member

Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, member

Congressional Caucus on Diabetes, member

Rare Disease Congressional Caucus, member

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Congressional Champion of Hope Award, 2013

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) Coalition, Congressional Champion Award, 2011

Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), Legislator of the Year, 2010

California Healthcare Institute (now merged into California Life Sciences Association), Champion for

Rep. David McKinley

R-WV

Congressional Arthritis Caucus, co-chair

Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, member

Congressional Caucus on the Deadliest Cancers, member

Congressional Caucus on Diabetes, member

Rare Disease Congressional Caucus, member

Science, Engineering and Technology Work Group (SETWG), George E. Brown Jr. Science, Engineering and Technology Leadership Award, 2016

AACR, co-host and supporter of briefing “Saving Lives in the New Era of Precision Medicine,” held to stimulate additional support for President Obama’s Precision Medicine Initiative, 2015

AACR, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2014

American College of Rheumatology, Award for Leaders in Rheumatology, 2014

Arthritis Foundation, Advocacy Leadership Award, 2014

HFA, Champion Award, 2014

Immune Deficiency Foundation, Public Policy Award, 2014

National Hemophilia Foundation, Dr. L. Michael Kuhn Award, 2014

Lupus Foundation of America, Distinguished Leadership Award, 2013

Patient Services Inc., Award for commitment and leadership to health policy issues that have helped patients, 2013

Rare Disease Legislative Advocates, Congressional Leadership Award, 2013

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers

R-WA

Congressional Neuroscience Caucus, co-chair

Congressional Task Force on Down Syndrome, co-chair

Down Syndrome Caucus, co-chair

Bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, member

Congressional Arthritis Caucus, member

Congressional Caucus on Diabetes, member

United Spinal Association, Junius A. Kellogg Outstanding Congressional Leadership Award, 2014

Global Down Syndrome Foundation, Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award, 2013

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2012 U.S. Representative of the Year, 2013

American Psychological Association, Congressional Champion Award, 2012

Rep. David Price

D-NC

Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, member

Congressional Arthritis Caucus, member

Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, member

Congressional Caucus on the Deadliest Cancers, member

Congressional Caucus on Diabetes, member

Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease, member

Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus, member

Congressional COPD Caucus, member

Congressional Crohn’s and Colitis Caucus, member

Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, member

TB Elimination Caucus, member

BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2011

Rep. Fred Upton

R-MI

Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, member

Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, member

Congressional Caucus on Diabetes, member

Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease, member

Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus, member

Rare Disease Congressional Caucus, member

ASBMB, Howard K. Schachman Public Service Award, 2016

Prevent Cancer Foundation, Cancer Champion, 2016

Tracy’s Kids, Courage Award, 2016

AACI, Champion for Cures Award, 2015

HFA, Champion Award, 2015

Parkinson’s Action Network (since integrated into The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research), Morris K. Udall Award for Public Service, 2015

Rare Disease Legislative Advocates, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2015

Research!America, Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy, 2015

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), Public Health Leadership Award, 2014

Society of Toxicology, Congressional Science Leadership Award, 2014

Alliance for Aging Research, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2012

California Healthcare Institute (now merged into California Life Sciences Association), Chairman’s Award, 2012

BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2011

Rep. Chris Van Hollen

D-MD

Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus, co-chair

Congressional Task Force on Down Syndrome, co-chair

Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, member

Congressional Arthritis Caucus, member

Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, member

Congressional Caucus on the Deadliest Cancers, member

Congressional Caucus on Diabetes, member

Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease, member

Congressional COPD Caucus, member

Congressional Crohn’s and Colitis Caucus, member

Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, member

Congressional Lung Cancer Caucus, member

Congressional Research and Development Caucus, member

Rare Disease Congressional Caucus, member

TB Elimination Caucus, member

American College of Cardiology, Legislator of the Year, 2014

Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, Legislator of the Year, 2013

Global Down Syndrome Foundation, Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award, 2013

American Association of Immunologists, Public Service Award, 2011

Parkinson’s Action Network (since integrated into The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research), Morris K. Udall Award for Public Service, 2011

SENATE

Sen. Sherrod Brown

D-OH

Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, member

Bipartisan Senate Caucus on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, member

Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease, member

OVAC, Congressional Cancer Champion Award, 2015

American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network, National Distinguished Advocacy Award, 2014

NORD, Public Health Leadership Award, 2014

AACR, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2012

ASCO, Public Service Award, 2011

Sen. Richard Burr

R-NC

Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, member

Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, member

National Kidney Foundation, honoree at Congressional Dinner, 2016

AACI, honored for support of cancer research, 2015

Research!America, Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy, 2013

National Down Syndrome Society, Champion of Change, 2013

ASBMB, Howard K. Schachman Public Service Award, 2012

Sen. Bob Casey

D-PA

Congressional Task Force on Down Syndrome, co-chair

AACR, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2015

NORD, Public Health Leadership Award, 2015

Research!America Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy, 2013

ASBMB, Howard K. Schachman Public Service Award, 2012

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2011 U.S. Senator of the Year, 2012

BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2011

UMR, Profile of Promise, 2011

ASH, Public Service Award, 2011

Sen. Susan Collins

R-ME

Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, Senate co-chair

Congressional COPD Caucus, member

Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, member

American Association of Diabetes Educators, Legislative Champion Award, 2014

Alzheimer’s Association, Humanitarian Award, 2011

American Diabetes Association, 2010 Distinguished Leadership in Diabetes Policy Award, 2011

Sen. Mike Crapo

R-ID

Congressional COPD Caucus, co-chair

Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease, member

Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, co-chair

Alzheimer's Association, Humanitarian Award, 2015

Prevent Cancer Foundation, Cancer Champion, 2015

Kidney Care Partners, public praise for co-sponsoring the “The Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act” (S. 598), 2015

U.S. COPD Coalition, Congressional Recognition, 2011

Sen. Richard J. Durbin

D-IL

Congressional COPD Caucus, co-chair

Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, co-chair

Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, member

Bipartisan Senate Caucus on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, member

Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, member

National Kidney Foundation, honoree at Congressional Dinner, 2015

The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2015

AACI, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2014 

American Association of Immunologists, Public Service Award, 2013

UMR, public praise for introducing amendment to raise NIH funding in FY 2014 Budget Resolution, 2013

Research!America, Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy, 2011

Sen. Orrin Hatch

R-UT

Rare Disease Congressional Caucus, Senate co-chair

Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, member

Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, member

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Legislative Champion Award, 2016

NORD, Public Health Leadership Award, 2016

BioUtah, Public Service Award, 2013

Utah Technology Leaders For Senator Hatch, endorsement, 2012

Friends of Cancer Research, Congressional Leadership Award, 2011

Sen. Edward Markey

D-MA

Bipartisan Alzheimer’s Task Force, founder and co-chair

Senate Cystic Fibrosis Caucus, co-founder

Congressional Cystic Fibrosis Caucus, co-founder

Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, Senate co-chair

Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, member

Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease, member

Alzheimer’s Association, Humanitarian Award, 2015

National Foundation for Cancer Research, Szent-Györgyi Prize Keynote Speaker, 2015

Association of Independent Research Institutes, Public Service Award, 2013

The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2012

AACR, ASCO, AACI, and Friends of Cancer Research, award for “longstanding commitment to biomedical research and the National Institutes of Health,” 2011

Sen. Barbara Mikulski

D-MD

Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, member

Bipartisan Senate Caucus on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, member

Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, member

AACI, honored for support of cancer research, 2015

ASH, Public Service Award, 2014

UMR, public praise for introducing amendment to raise NIH funding in FY 2014 Budget Resolution, 2013

Research!America Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy winner 2012

Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, public praise for resolution urging the U.S. Postal Service to issue a stamp to fund Alzheimer’s disease research at NIH, 2011

Sen. Jerry Moran

R-KS

Congressional Task Force on Down Syndrome, co-chair

Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, member

Congressional Caucus on the Deadliest Cancers, member

Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease, member

ASBMB, Howard K. Schachman Public Service Award, 2015

Alzheimer’s Association, Humanitarian Award, 2014

Global Down Syndrome Foundation, Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award, 2014

The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2014

Alliance for Aging Research, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2013

UMR, public praise for introducing amendment to raise NIH funding in FY 2014 Budget Resolution, 2013;

AACI, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2012

OVAC, Congressional Cancer Champion Award, 2012

AACR, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2011

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