AES Signs on to Letter of Support for the BRAIN Initiative

To:
The Honorable Tammy Baldwin, Chair
The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito, Ranking Member
Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Robert Aderholt, Chair
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member
Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

CC:
The Honorable Patty Murray, Chair, U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations
The Honorable Susan Collins, Vice Chair, U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations
The Honorable Kay Granger, Chair, U.S. House Committee on Appropriations

Dear Chair Baldwin, Ranking Member Capito, Chair Aderholt, and Ranking Member DeLauro,

The undersigned members of the brain health community are writing to respectfully request that the Committee provide robust funding for the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative in Fiscal Year 2024. The steady commitment to investing in neuroscience in recent years is helping researchers make discoveries that fundamentally change and improve our understanding of how the human brain works and is opening the door to innovative technologies and treatments for brain-related diseases and disorders. Only through research will the causes, cures, and ultimately prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders be found. As such, we respectfully request that you provide at least $680 million for the BRAIN Initiative, as included in the Senate’s Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, for FY 2024.

Despite tremendous progress, brain disorders and diseases impose a $1.5 trillion annual cost to the nation’s economy and one in three Americans will have a brain or nervous system disorder sometime in their life. However, the BRAIN Initiative is revolutionizing our understanding of the brain and offering hope for the millions of individuals impacted by brain diseases, disorders, and injuries. For example, the BRAIN Initiative supports transformative projects to create a detailed map of the human brain, diagram the microconnectivity of the brain, and provide the tools to access brain cell types with unprecedented specificity. Ultimately, the rapid advancement of brain science necessitates increased funding to maximize our exploration of the brain and advance our understanding and identification of cures and treatments. To continue and capitalize on these opportunities, we encourage you to further your support by again providing robust funding for the BRAIN Initiative.

We understand Congress faces a challenging budget climate for FY 2024. Passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act means there will be cuts to discretionary spending over the next two years, which will have a widespread impact on health and research programs. The BRAIN Initiative is our best opportunity to improve our understanding of the human brain and make progress towards treatments and cures for numerous diseases and disorders. Additionally, any funding cuts to the BRAIN Initiative will have a damaging effect on research taking place at institutions across the country. We implore you to prioritize these efforts and provide the highest possible level of funding for the BRAIN Initiative.

Signed: