2017 Hill Day recap

This past week, the ASBMB held its annual Hill Day, bringing undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and midcareer researchers to Capitol Hill to discuss federal funding for scientific research with members of Congress and their staffs.

#ASBMBHillDay is underway! Meet the undergrads, #PhD students & #postdocs talking to lawmakers about their work: https://t.co/DL1ljWN04g. pic.twitter.com/ys9oJlJlTO

— ASBMB (@ASBMB) April 6, 2017

Early Thursday morning Hill Day attendees put on their advocacy hats and descended on Capitol Hill.

The next generation of American scientists is here in D.C. asking Congress to support NIH funding, and we have buttons. #asbmbhillday pic.twitter.com/kXrrLJTtFu

— Laura White (@LauraKWhite) April 6, 2017

All ready to start my day of meetings for #ASBMBHillDay ! #standforscience pic.twitter.com/qFcMU7ncEq

— Allison (@PetitePhD) April 6, 2017

Morning essentials. On the way to Capitol Hill. #ASBMBHillDay pic.twitter.com/bbRSzaLgft

— Celine Hartman (@HartmanCeline) April 6, 2017

And then the meetings began…

This year the ASBMB brought 29 participants to Washington, D.C. (12 ASBMB PAAC members and 17 grad students, undergraduates, and postdocs) representing 33 states and attended close to 90 meetings.

Thank you to Jesse Von Stein with @RepDonYoung for taking the time to meet with me in regards to NIH funding #ASBMBHillDay pic.twitter.com/lparDxgQI4

— Ashley Widmer (@Ashley_Widmer) April 6, 2017

What an honor to meet @TeamSheaPorter! So supportive & encouraged scientists 2 keep advocating! #ASBMBHillDay @ASBMB pic.twitter.com/clPZKyZunv

— scienceisnotpartisan (@AErwinius) April 6, 2017

Teams, in most cases, went to nine meetings, often-times back-to-back requiring them to zigzag from the House to the Senate and back again with few opportunities to to catch their breath.

Catching our breathe and drying off between meetings @ASBMB #ASBMBHillDay pic.twitter.com/6M1saxEhpn

— Terri Kinzy (@kinzytg) April 6, 2017

If they did have a chance to grab a bite, they needed to move fast in order to make their next meeting.

Busy lunch #ASBMBHillDay (spot the @ASBMB member) pic.twitter.com/e3AGtItHD8

— (((Benjamin Corb))) (@bwcorb) April 6, 2017

Thank you @ChuckGrassley for meeting with us & supporting NIH & NSF #ASBMBHillDay pic.twitter.com/pfgn9eEAgE

— Rick Page (@ThePageLab) April 6, 2017

@SenatorCantwell supports NIH! With @chrabdulla @pombe_doc #ASBMBHillDay pic.twitter.com/C5BJRqC539

— Gilbert Martinez (@gqmartinez) April 6, 2017

It was great speaking with @RepBillFlores during ASBMB Hill Day! #ASBMBHillDay pic.twitter.com/KGqVf68WUJ

— Katherine Sharp (@KatherineASharp) April 6, 2017

All in all, Hill Day was a success.

We thank the trainees and researchers who continue to help make the case for investments in basic research. Participants reported an overwhelming outpouring of support from both sides of the aisle regarding the future of NIH and NSF funding. As we move closer to the end of a continuing resolution on Apr. 28, we will continue to push for proper appropriations bills that not only fund agencies like the NSF and NIH but also show an increased commitment to investing in the future of the scientific enterprise.

Another #ASBMBHillDay in the books just as the storm clouds lift over the Capitol & the sun shines through. #FittingEnd pic.twitter.com/8AIZGu1Nb7

— Rick Page (@ThePageLab) April 6, 2017