Science Government Relations Office

The APA Science Government Relations Office advocates in multiple areas to influence policy decisions that advance and preserve the infrastructure of psychological science. One of our primary goals is to educate and empower APA members and psychologists to advocate for the discipline.

Key Policy Areas

• Peer Review

  APA advocacy efforts related to the process of peer review, ensuring that only those research proposals with the highest scientific merit receive funding from federal agencies.

• Federal Research Spending

  APA advocacy efforts related to funding for federal agencies that support behavioral and psychological research — educating policymakers about its role in innovation and advances in public health.

• Substance Abuse

  APA advocacy efforts related to psychological research of the prevention, etiology and treatment of substance use disorders.

• Military Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families

  APA advocacy efforts related to service members, veterans and their families — access to mental and behavioral health care, PTSD, substance use and abuse, brain injuries and psychosocial rehabilitation.

• National Institutes of Health

  APA advocacy efforts related to NIH, the largest federal funder of psychological research — promoting research projects, influencing policy, and increasing federal funding for behavioral research.

News & Events

• Stand for Science
• APA Federal Budget Blog
• Federal budget for FY 2013 is finalized, FY 2014 budget process begins

  Science agency budgets caught in debates about federal spending.

• Coburn amendment restricts NSF political science funding

  Concerns arise about further moves against behavioral sciences.

• Diversity workshop report calls for more federal coordination

  One of the recommendations calls for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to take a leadership role in coordinating the development of common data and measures.

• APA and other groups comment on smokeless tobacco warning labels

  FDA sought input and supporting evidence about how changes in the warnings would affect understanding of the risks.

• APA member selected for PCORI’s advisory panel on addressing disparities

  Alfiee Breland-Noble, PhD, of Georgetown University will serve on one of PCORI’s new advisory panels, established to help refine and prioritize research questions.

• Science Student Council goes to the Hill

  APA grad students lobby for NIH, NSF.

• PCORI convenes workgroup on obesity treatment options in diverse populations

  The all-day meeting included a session for identification and prioritization of key research questions for an upcoming targeted funding announcement.

• IOM committee to develop CDC agenda on gun violence prevention research

  Congress will decide whether to appropriate funding for the research.

• PCORI issues funding announcements for development of a National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network

  The institute will award up to $68 million for new and existing “clinical data research networks” and “patient-powered research networks.”

• CDC seeks new director for the National Center on Health Statistics

  The incumbent will provide leadership in the design, development and operation of statistical and information systems that guide the actions of policies to improve the health of the American people.

• Science GRO featured in Washington Post article on VA psychologists
• NSF seeks proposals for research in neuroscience and cognitive science

  In keeping with President Obama’s neuroscience initiative, NSF is seeking proposals with the potential to transform these areas of research in four broad thematic areas.

• APA hosts Lobby Day for Association of VA Psychologist Leaders

  Many of the members of Congress chairing full committees and subcommittees on veterans’ issues are new in the roles this session.

• APA Government Relations staff meets with Division 19 executive committee

  Agenda items included possible effects of the budget sequestration on DoD psychologists and internship applicants and new collaborative efforts underway at DoD and VA in the areas of suicide prevention, PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury.

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