Roy Blunt - Senior Senator for Missouri, 2011-2022

Senator Blunt receives our score of an A+ for using his high-impact position to push through sustained funding for neuroscience research. As the chairman of the Health and Human Services subcommittee on Appropriations committee, which is arguably the most powerful position to determine NIH funding. Additionally, he is a member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation which determines NSF funding. In 2016, along with Patty Murray (D-WA) he headed sponsorship of the first successful increase to NIH funding in over a decade. Under his subcommittee chairmanship, NIH funding levels have continued to increase steadily. He has specifically advocated for the BRAIN initiative and increased Alzheimer’s funding, and both received significant funding increases in the proposed FY2020 budget. While as co-chair he cannot sign on to Dear Colleague letters addressed to himself, he has made his strong commitment to the NIH, NSF, and neuroscience research abundantly clear.  

“NIH research gives hope to millions of people suffering from conditions ranging from cancer to Alzheimer’s disease to cystic fibrosis...That’s why I’m committed to making sure the best medical professionals in the country have the support they need to develop life-saving, cost-saving treatments or cures.”

Co-sponsored: S.1126 - Concentrating on High-value Alzheimer's Needs to Get to an End (CHANGE) Act of 2019

Co-sponsored: S.901 - Younger Onset Alzheimer's Disease Act

Joshua ‘Josh’ Hawley, Junior Senator for Missouri, 2019-2024

Senator Hawley receives a grade of a D+. Unlike his colleague Senator Blunt, Senator Hawley has shown no support for biomedical or neuroscience funding. He has not signed on to most significant bills proposed this year, is not a member of the NIH caucus, and has not signed on to any dear colleague letter. His sponsorship of the HELP act, which would relocate federal agencies like the NIH out of the DC area, would be detrimental for intra-agency communication and highly disruptive to current research conducted there. We could not find a relevant quote from the senator on biomedical research. 

Co-sponsored: S.901 - Younger Onset Alzheimer's Disease Act

Sponsored (negative): S.2672 - Helping Infrastructure Restore the Economy Act