American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) partnered for the Seventh Annual Kidney Advocacy Day. ASN and AAKP representatives met with nearly 100 congressional offices to discuss KidneyX and request $25 million in funding for the program to run a series of prize competitions.
Owing to their efforts, and calls from other ASN and AAKP advocates, a bipartisan group of nearly 60 members of Congress wrote to the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee asking them to include $25 million in funding for KidneyX in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. The letter was led by Congressional Kidney Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01) and Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN-08), along with champions of patient-centered innovation, Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL-07) and Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX-36).
Building on this momentum, Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) led a similar effort with the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee supporting the $25 million request in FY 2020.
Although the effort to secure federal funding for KidneyX is certainly not over, ASN would like to thank several members of the kidney community for their extraordinary support of KidneyX through advocating on Capitol Hill, engaging activists, holding a congressional briefing, and other efforts:
American Association of Kidney Patients
American Kidney Fund
Kidney Care Partners
National Kidney Foundation
Northwest Kidney Centers
ASN will continue to engage and partner with the kidney community in its advocacy work on KidneyX.
