New ASH Advocates Head to the Hill to #Fight4Hematology Free

On September 8 and 9, 2025, 27 ASH members participated in the annual ASH Advocacy Leadership Institute (ALI) in Washington, DC. The first day of the workshop provided insight into ASH’s role in the policymaking process and taught participants how to be effective advocates. The second day offered an opportunity for participants to put their new advocacy skills to work while meeting with their elected officials and staff to advocate for issues affecting hematology research and practice.

This year, ALI participants visited more than 50 congressional offices to advocate for dedicated funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as support for legislation to improve care for individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) who are covered by Medicaid. The advocacy meetings built upon the many visits by ASH leadership, the Committees on Government Affairs and Practice, and other ASH advocates throughout 2025 as part of the Society’s Fight4Hematology campaign.

The good news is that advocacy is working! The ALI Hill visits came just as the House Appropriations Committee was voting to advance its fiscal year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies spending bill, which rejects the Administration’s proposed cuts to NIH and instead recommends $48 billion in funding for NIH in FY26. This followed action by the Senate Appropriations Committee at the end of July, which similarly rejected the Administration’s cuts and called for $48.7 billion in NIH funding. Despite these positive developments, continued advocacy is still critical. Even though the Appropriations Committees made some progress, FY26 spending levels were still not finalized by the time this issue of The Hematologist went to press.

All ASH members can participate in the Society’s advocacy efforts by joining the ASH Grassroots Network to receive regular updates and information about what is happening in Washington that affects hematology. Additionally, the ASH Government Relations and Practice Department is available to help set up meetings with congressional staff in Washington, DC, or in the state or district offices of members of Congress. ASH staff can also provide the information needed to serve as an effective advocate, including fact sheets and relevant talking points. For more information, visit hematology.org/advocacy.

Additionally, mark your calendar to attend the Grassroots Network Lunch at the 2025 ASH Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday, December 6, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., in the Florida Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Orlando. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about ASH’s advocacy efforts in response to the changing political landscape in Washington and hear from several colleagues who will share their experiences as advocates and discuss why it’s so important for hematologists to remain engaged in advocacy. The program will also be streamed on the virtual meeting platform for those participating in the meeting virtually.