APA Advocacy Washington Update

September 29–30

• Rallying for increased investments in the National Institutes of Health

September 15-21

• Supporting access to college preparation programs for migrant students
• Organizing support for coverage and reimbursement of digital therapeutics
• Promoting access to treatment via outpatient programs

September 8–14

• Growing the mental and behavioral health workforce

August 18-24

• Advocating for the mental health of caregivers
• NIH restructuring and reforms proposal needs transparency and stakeholder input

August 1–3

• Supporting investments in women’s behavioral health research

July 28–31

• Supporting bipartisan legislation to boost research and innovation in education

July 21–27

• Informing sexual and gender minority health research

July 7–13

• Briefing Congress on opioid use in justice settings
• Minority Fellowship Program fellows advocate for increased funding for the program
• Opposing radical reorganization of the National Institutes of Health

June 23–29

• Testifying in support of increased funding for programs essential to population health and the field of psychology

June 16–22

• Promoting psychology in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Strategic Plan
• Informing NIH on racism and the brain
• Advocating to improve health equity across the lifespan
• Educating the White House on safe and inclusive STEM environments
• Providing recommendations on maternal mental health care
• Supporting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Pride Summit

June 2–8

• Supporting funding for gun violence prevention research
• Advocating to protect the sustainability of the VA
• APA cosponsors 27th Annual VA Psychology Leaders Conference

May 26–31

• Urging Congress to protect telehealth access
• Promoting careers in mental health

May 12–18

• Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the National Institute of Mental Health
• APA’s CEO urges Congress to address the mental health crisis among Black men and boys

May 5–11

• Supporting increased funding for the Institute of Education Sciences

May 1–4

• Educating Congress on the value of the Minority Fellowship Program

April 28–30

• Advocating for key rural mental health program
• Joining coalition partners to support health research funding
• Welcoming enhanced protections from sexual misconduct in educational settings

April 14–20

• Advocating for policies to support older Americans
• Advocating for psychological science in women’s health research
• Collaborating with state psychology associations on advocacy training
• Educating members of Congress on the importance of telehealth access

April 7–13

• APA Services-drafted mental health workforce diversity legislation introduced

April 1–6

• Providing support for publishing null research results
• Advocating for Native American youth mental health
• APA CEO champions population health, community partnerships during Ohio visit
• Promoting psychology in NIH’s Strategic Plan on Data Science
• Promoting and defending animal research
• Calling for increased funding to support medical research
• Informing HIV research and prevention strategy

March 24–30

• Expanding access to prevention and early intervention services

March 17–23

• Everyday Advocacy: Engaging high schoolers in democracy
• Making recommendations on mental health, substance use, and sexual safety needs in educational settings

March 10–16

• Responding to Change Healthcare shutdown
• Partial government funding bill restores half of Medicare rate cut
• Partnering to address youth mental health and substance use
• Providing recommendations on the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders

March 3–9

• Supporting the expansion of mental health services in schools

February 25–29

• Protecting investments in the science of teaching and learning

February 18–24

• Translating Council policy into advocacy action

February 11–17

• APA president and president-elect visit White House to discuss Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander mental health

February 4–10

• Bringing the science of social media’s impact on children to the White House
• Offering guidance on new government guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence

February 1–3

• Providing recommendations on proposed changes to the Head Start program

January 21–27

• Collaborating with Children’s National Hospital to advocate for youth and maternal mental health
• Raise your voice for psychology as an everyday advocate

January 7–13

• APA member Carolyn Mazure, PhD, to chair White House Women’s Health Research Initiative
• Calling on Congress to complete the appropriations process

December 31

• Making recommendations to protect children online
• APA participates in White Ribbon Day supporting victims of domestic violence
• APA files amicus brief in social media safety case

December 3–9

• Advancing psychology in national governance of artificial intelligence
• Calling on Congress to fund programs key to psychology and mental health
• Providing recommendations on migrant mental health

December 1–2

• Highlighting psychologists’ critical advocacy in 2023

November 12–18

• APA Services priorities advanced by Senate Finance Committee
• Testifying on the psychological impact of artificial intelligence

November 5–11

• Supporting the confirmation of the new NIH director

November 1–4

• APA members participate in White House roundtable on mental health in the entertainment industry
• Convening experts in rural mental health
• Briefing Congress on the impacts of climate change on youth mental health
• Informing Congress on modernizing the CDC

October 29–31

• Providing input on modernizing the National Institutes of Health

October 22–28

• Grassroots advocacy campaign secures introduction of Youth Mental Health Research Act
• Psychologist testifies before Congress on the mental health crisis among teen girls
• Supporting proposed changes to mental health parity rules
• APA president informs members of Congress on Black maternal mental health crisis
• Welcoming new APA congressional and executive branch policy fellows

October 10–16

• APA President Thema S. Bryant, PhD, appoints six members of the Advocacy Coordinating Committee
• Advocating to protect immigrants acting as family caretakers
• Opposing conversion therapy

September 24–30

• Informing the role of Congress in artificial intelligence regulation
• Leading coalition efforts to support integrated care legislation
• Reducing disparities in access to care among rural and frontier communities

September 17–23

• Rallying for continued investment in the National Institutes of Health

September 3–9

• Urging NIH to resist hype of alternatives to animal studies

August 20–26

• Multipronged advocacy effort leads to introduction of legislation to support Medicare reimbursement for interns and postdoctoral residents
• Calling attention to social isolation in older adults

August 6–12

• Contributing psychological science to the new National Science Foundation roadmap
• Kids Online Safety Act advances unanimously from the Senate Commerce Committee
• Supporting behavioral health technology and obesity therapy legislation
• Supporting legislation to promote immigrants’ mental health
• Urging Congress to protect access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth
• Calling on all psychologists to comment on Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule
• Partnering with APA divisions to promote access to mental health in schools

July 16–22

• Clinical psychologist named new head of National Institutes of Health Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research

July 9–15

• Advancing psychology in national artificial intelligence strategy
• Calling on Congress to tie Medicare payment rates to inflation
• Working with members to promote drug and behavioral health research
• Protecting privacy in reproductive health decisions
• Continuing to advocate for student debt relief after Supreme Court blocks Biden’s cancellation plan
• Clinical psychologist named new head of National Institutes of Health Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research

July 2–8

• Advising the Biden administration on proposed reforms to state Medicaid and CHIP programs
• Advocating for increased funding for the Minority Fellowship Program

June 18–24

• Supreme Court upholds the Indian Child Welfare Act using psychological science

June 11–17

• Advocating for youth mental health research and stronger protections for children on social media
• Advancing psychology research priorities in the White House

June 4–10

• Affirming the nomination of Monica Bertagnolli, MD, to lead the National Institutes of Health
• Supporting prevention research

June 1–3

• Supporting the mental health of educators of color
• Urging Congress to take action on substance use disorder treatment

May 28–31

• Advocating to protect and promote animal research

May 14–20

• Advocating for more research funding and stronger science infrastructure
• Reimagining research on violence against women
• Supporting key legislation to preserve gains in telehealth access
• Calling for protections for LGBTQ+ student athletes

May 7–13

• Advocating for various pathways to student debt relief

May 1–6

• Opposing drastic federal spending cuts
• Making expert recommendations about collecting federal data on race

March 26–31

• Testifying to support increased funding to address the mental health crisis
• Advocating for research funding on postpartum PTSD
• Urging Congress to increase funding for maternal and child health programs
• Advocating to strengthen the psychology workforce and improve health equity

March 16–22

• Calling for health program funding for American Indians and Alaska Natives

March 5–11

• Bipartisan legislation introduced to increase Medicare patients’ access to psychologists
• Promoting psychological science in cybersecurity policies
• Promoting the mental health of Native American children
• Sharing research to address health disparities

February 19–25

• Testifying to protect children online

February 12–18

• Advocating for equal treatment of graduate students in student debt relief programs
• Opposing Florida Governor’s request for information on students seeking gender-affirmative care
• Supporting educator mental health and well-being

February 5–11

• Supporting the teaching of African American history

January 22–28

• Federal research funding gets critical increases for 2023
• Key policy wins to advance the practice of psychology signed into law
• Psychology workforce training and education programs get funding boosts with sustained advocacy
• Advocating for stronger regulations to protect young people online
• Advocacy leads to increases in funding for health equity and social justice policy initiatives

January 8–14

• Advocacy leads to appropriations win on maternal mental health
• Securing wins for psychology

December 4–10

• Advocating to protect veterans’ mental health research
• Making recommendations on the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers
• Promoting inclusion of psychologists in national directory of health care providers
• Providing input on the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Strategic Plan
• Advocacy leads to historic marijuana research law

November 13–19

• Requesting exemptions for behavioral health clinicians
• Advocating for comprehensive mental health reform

November 6–12

• Promoting psychological science to encourage federal action on climate change and health equity

October 23–29

• APA President Frank C. Worrell, PhD, appoints six new members of the Advocacy Coordinating Committee

October 9–15

• Providing psychological science to guide federal racial and ethnic health equity policies
• Advising the White House on equitable data collection and management
• Participating in congressional mental health consortium meeting on immigration

October 2–8

• Promoting psychological science in women’s health research
• Informing Department of Justice about necessary policing reforms
• Welcoming new APA congressional and executive branch policy fellows

September 25–30

• Advocating for marriage equality
• Joining the scientific community to rally for continued investment in the National Institutes of Health
• Strengthening enforcement of federal nondiscrimination in health care protections
• Urging Congress to fully fund the Department of Health and Human Services public health agencies

September 11–17

• Improving the handling of sexual misconduct in K-12 and higher education

August 28–31

• Supporting legislation to protect the health of America’s older adults

August 21–27

• Supporting major legislation to combat climate change
• Advocacy leads to major wins on student debt forgiveness

August 14–20

• Supporting legislation to improve health standards for immigrants
• Names of addiction-related federal agencies are changing

August 7–13

• Responding to National Institutes of Health request for information on regulation of animal laboratories

August 1–6

• Calling all psychologists to comment on critical CMS physician reimbursement proposal
• Congress passes bill aimed at increasing research funding

July 24-30

• Supporting new bipartisan legislation to strengthen parity compliance
• Calling for a population health approach in addressing the nation’s mental health and substance use disorder crises
• Advocating for federal policy to address the impact of climate change on mental health and health equity

July 3-9

• Congress passes comprehensive gun violence prevention legislation 
  
• Urging Congress to prioritize youth mental health 
• Expanding funding for gun violence prevention research 
• Collaborating to protect research with non-human animals
• Promoting psychological science in artificial intelligence research 

June 19-25

• APA co-sponsors leadership conference on veterans’ mental health

June 12-18

• Calling for increased protections for children on social media
• Coalition calls on Congress to increase defense health research funding

June 5-11

• APA pushes National Institute on Drug Abuse to expand racial equity plan beyond DEI office to diversify the scientific workforce

June 1-4

• Recommending changes on procedures for credible fear screening for immigrants 

May 22–28

• Responding to federal strategy to address environmental justice and health disparities
• Leading legislation to increase investments in under-resourced youth and campus-based mental health and suicide prevention
• Providing psychological research on the spread of COVID-19 misinformation

May 15–21

• Former chair of APA’s Committee on Aging testifies before the Senate Special Committee on Aging
• Joining Black Mental Health Roundtable to consider impacts of racism on the mental health of Black Americans

May 8–14

• Responding to the US Preventive Services Task Force recommendations on screening for depression and suicide risk in children and adolescents
• Encouraging consistency in regulation of wild-caught birds used in research
• Informing the NIH’s Office of Research on Women’s Health request for information on the intersection of the covid-19 pandemic and the health of women with psychological science

May 1–7

• Congressional briefing highlighted new research on alcohol use among older adults
• Partnering with Congressional Mental Health Caucus to spotlight data on school-based mental health

April 24–30

• Supporting increased federal funding for research on child sexual abuse prevention
• Supporting rolling back the Department of Homeland Security public charge rule
• Providing recommendations to improve research on the health and well-being of Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders
• Supporting and recommending changes to Department of Veterans Affairs disability ratings for mental disorders

April 17–23, 2022

• Supporting increased federal funding for Farm and Ranch Worker Stress Assistance Network
• Advising CMS on pathways to improve access to services through state Medicaid programs
• Informing CDC opioid prescribing guidelines

April 10–16, 2022

• White House Office of Science and Technology Policy called for public input on role digital technologies play in community health

March 27–31, 2022

• APA shines light on Black youth mental health crisis
• Encouraging the National Cancer Institute to Support Psychological Research
• Influencing the global community on policing
• Psychology advocates press Congress to support the psychology workforce and expand access to behavioral health care
• APA-led coalition calls on US surgeon general to launch public education campaign on dangers of social media
• Psychologists weigh in on ways to encourage veterans to increase outdoor recreation on public lands
• Webinar: Social Media’s Impact on Children and Next Steps

March 20–26, 2022

• Grassroots advocacy leads to introduction of student loan forgiveness bill
• APA comments on draft Strategic Plan of NIH’s Center for Scientific Review
• APA task force briefs lawmakers on the violence and stressors faced by the education workforce during pandemic

March 13–19, 2022

• APA Services secures a significant funding boost for behavioral and psychological research
• Comments filed on National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan
• National Health Security Strategy request for input touches on APA priorities
• Psychologists weigh in on federal rule eliminating copays for veterans at high risk for suicide
• Responding to a congressional task force’s request for information on the future of mental health treatment
• Submitting evidence-based recommendations on reimagining policing in the COVID-19 era

March 6–12, 2022

• Supporting academic freedom

March 1–5, 2022

• Collaborating on student loan forgiveness
• Advocating for equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility to advance the NIH mission
• Biden proclamation reaffirms the government's apology for the Japanese American incarceration, urges teaching of accurate history
• Confronting LGBTQ+ discrimination policies across the states
• Opportunities for psychologists to provide evidence-based policy solutions to threats to our nation’s mental health

February 20-26, 2022

• Advising the Senate on comprehensive Kids Online Safety Act
• Endorsing Guarding Mental Health Act

February 13-19, 2022

• Working to increase funding for the Minority Fellowship Program
• Fostering safe and healthy school climates
• Expressing support for immigration policy
• Supporting the introduction of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act in the Senate
• Endorsing legislation to help family of officers impacted by trauma
• Advocating for role of psychologists in prevent Pandemics Act

February 1-5, 2022

• APA testifies before Senate HELP Committee on the growing mental health and substance use crisis
• Supporting evidence-based early childhood mental and behavioral health interventions

January 23-29, 2022

• Expressing concerns to the Department of Health and Human Services regarding new surprise billing regulations
• Welcoming changes to international student visas

January 16-22, 2022

• Strengthening the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Applications open for the Health Professional Scholarship Program
• Increasing Veterans access to care with automatic enrollment in the VA
• Urging key Senate committee leadership to vote on critical mental health legislation
• APA seeks input on two federal regulatory requests for information

January 2-8, 2022

• According to NIH, COVID-19 Is increasing opportunities for behavioral, psychological and social science research
• Securing policy priorities in FY22 defense bill
• Comments filed on VA rule impacting Counseling Service Scholarship Program

December 12-18, 2021

• Curbing social media user manipulation

December 5-11, 2021

• Applauding the surgeon general’s December 7 advisory on ‘Protecting Youth Mental Health’
• Partnering to increase funding for health care for Native Americans
• Reducing harm of social media on children
• Strengthening educator training and preparation

December 1-4, 2021

• Applauding Environmental Protection Agency's implementation of President Biden’s environmental justice initiative

November 28-30, 2021

• Supporting improvements for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program
• APA Services joins forces with education, public health, and research communities to encourage swift passage of FY 2022 annual funding bills

November 7-13, 2021

• APA responds to Senate Finance Committee call for mental health policy solutions
• Advocating for psychological science at COP26
• Communicating priorities to Senate mental health policy leaders
• APA secures bipartisan introduction of Post-Disaster Mental Health Response Act
• Advising the Office of the Surgeon General on initiatives to improve child mental health
• State associations, partner organizations, and APA promote key mental health parity provision in reconciliation negotiations
• Partnering to increase awareness of children’s mental health
• APA cosponsors webinar on telehealth and alcohol treatment

October 24-30, 2021

• APA President Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD, ABPP, appoints four new members of the Advocacy Coordinating Committee

October 17-23, 2021

• Supporting sickle cell disease Medicaid demonstration bill
• Advising Congress on Social Determinants of Health Caucus
• APA responds to federal plans to democratize artificial intelligence data and resources for US researchers

October 10-16, 2021

• Welcoming new congressional and executive branch policy fellows
• VA psychologists testify on proposed legislation focused on mental health care and improving care for women

October 3-9, 2021

• Sustained advocacy leads to key win on student loan forgiveness program
• Raising awareness of the importance of substance use disorder prevention

September 26-30, 2021

• Supporting legislation to fund mental health services for communities impacted by gun violence
• Working with Congress to update definitions of child abuse and neglect and mandatory reporter
• Psychological scientists rally for psychological research on Capitol Hill

September 19-25, 2021

• Advancing children’s mental health before House subcommittee

• Collaborating with state psychological associations to push for changes in CMS’s proposed rule

September 12-18, 2021

• Working to support elder justice and social isolation programs
• Promoting behavioral science in NIH’s 2021–2025 strategic plan
• Illinois Psychological Association joins Health is Health coalition in successful effort to expand access to mental health services in Illinois
• Narrowly-focused one-size-fits-all integrated care bill introduced in Congress
• Ensuring that K-12 students experiencing a mental health crisis have access to timely support
• Collaborating with state psychology association on issues pertaining to mutual Medicaid-related advocacy priorities
• Working to expand health care, nutrition assistance, and other essential programs for immigrants
• Advancing maternal health legislation to eliminate racial disparities
• Grassroots advocacy leads to key win on student mental health

September 1-4, 2021

• APA celebrates creation of unprecedented office for climate change and related health disparities
• Raising awareness of APA advocacy priorities as Senate Finance Committee constructs new mental health legislation

August 29-31, 2021

• Offering recommendations for advancing cultural competency, language access, and sensitivity toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

August 22-28, 2021

• APA endorses legislation to prevent suicide among children and young adults

August 1-7, 2021

• Division and committee-led coalition honored with APA Services, Inc.’s Federal Advocacy Award for Policy Impact
• Providing input on the design of a potential ‘public option’ health insurance plan

July 25-31, 2021

• Calling for new guidance to address equity in school discipline
• Advocating for student mental health at the APASI 2021 Education Advocacy Summit
• Advocating for federal actions to decrease student loan debt

July 18-24, 2021

• Offering recommendations on practice, science, and equity for the next iteration of the 21st Century Cures Act
• Commenting on establishment of new ARPA entity in NIH
• APA priorities on track to receive increased federal funding

July 11-17, 2021

• Bringing psychological science forward to end corporal punishment in schools
• Maintaining flexible length of study for international students
• Engaging policymakers on integrated care

July 4-10, 2021

• Partnering with House caucus on psychological science and the Future of Work
• Advocating for expanded protections for LGBTQ+ students with the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights
• Supporting bipartisan legislation to improve access to crisis care services
• Using psychological science to advance equity in government-wide programs

June 20-26, 2021

• Supporting legislation to extend and expand current flexibilities in Medicare telehealth coverage
• Supporting the Biden administration’s FY 2022 budget request for education research

June 13-19, 2021

• Providing scientific expertise to Government Accountability Office study on policing
• Using psychological science to support the American Dream and Promise Act
• Advocating for an end to corporal punishment in schools

June 6-12, 2021

• Highlighting the importance of mental health care for unaccompanied immigrant children
• APA-supported legislation for investment in research and development passes Senate
• Talking with Capitol Hill staffers about stress and trauma
• Working with Congress to address adverse childhood trauma
• APA supports Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, PhD, to serve as the assistant secretary of SAMHSA

June 1-5, 2021

• Bringing psychological science to school-based mental health

May 27, 2021

• CDC and APA discuss adolescent mental health

May 26, 2021

• Pediatric psychologists’ Anti-Racism Task Force trained on federal, state advocacy strategies, and tactics

May 25, 2021

• Applauding global engagement in letters to Biden administration
• Inaugural Leadership in Science Advocacy Award presented to Allyson J. Bennett, PhD

May 21, 2021

• Advocacy Summit: Stand for Science to Advance Psychology

May 20, 2021

• APA urges Congress to address nation’s gun violence crisis

May 12, 2021

• Bringing psychological science to the White House COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force
• Addressing rural mental health disparities with recommendations to inform the National Institute of Mental Health research agenda

May 11, 2021

• Advancing mental health equity and youth suicide prevention legislation

May 6, 2021

• Educating Congress about the importance of research with nonhuman animals

April 29, 2021

• Supporting the call for more resources for the CDC’s Data Modernization Initiative

April 28, 2021

• Working with Congress to address adverse childhood experiences
• APA issues statement in support of Extreme Risk Protection Orders at US Senate Hearing

April 27, 2021

• Celebrating Third Annual VA Psychology Recognition Week
• Providing recommendations for Senate hearing on behavioral health and policing
• Highlighting the impact of COVID-19 on the workplace and offering evidence-based recommendations to the US Senate
• APA provides comments on VA suicide prevention grant program

April 21, 2021

• Influencing federal guidance on how schools can address the social and emotional well-being of students affected by the pandemic
  
• Continuing advocacy on Medicare reimbursement rates will be needed throughout year
• Endorsing introduction of the Mental Health for Latinos Act

April 20, 2021

• Calling on the Department of Education to issue guidance on mental health as schools reopen
• Advocating for student loan forgiveness for psychologists
• Highlighting the value of utilizing psychological science to combat racism and inequities in the scientific workforce
• Calling for more resources to address the social determinants of health
• Supporting the Immigrants’ Mental Health Act
• Advocacy training for pediatric psychologists
• Calling for stronger enforcement for mental health parity laws and continued telehealth coverage to advance health equity

April 5, 2021

• Welcoming Secretary of Defense Austin and offers suggestions on improving service delivery, prevention, and psychological research for servicemembers
• Providing recommendations to Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on mental health care for veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Endorsing bold plan to strengthen the US science and technology infrastructure
• APA partners with HFES in providing comments to the Department of Transportation on plans for autonomous vehicles

April 1, 2021

• APA calls for reforms to nation’s gun laws
• Advocating for the Equality Act in the Senate

March 22, 2021

• Advocating for NIH and NIDDK FY2022 funding increase
• Psychologists warn Congress of access cliff for patients who rely on telehealth
• APA supports Vivek Murthy, MD, to serve as surgeon general of the United States
• Working to support immigrants through the Dream Act
• Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act passes US House of Representatives

March 19, 2021

• APA secures key wins in COVID-19 relief legislation
• Supporting gun background checks legislation

March 15, 2021

• APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, testifies before the House LHHS-Ed Appropriations Subcommittee

March 9, 2021

• Highlighting the value of telehealth in expanding behavioral health access
• House passes the Equality Act; APA calls for swift action in the Senate
• Welcoming Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona
• Supporting investments in health systems and health equity research at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Boosting access to mental and behavioral health services in schools by calling for updated Medicaid billing guidance
• APA CEO welcomes Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough and outlines priorities

February 24, 2021

• Congress reintroduces the RISE Act to provide relief to institutions of higher education, research institutions, and researchers
• Advancing behavioral science in the COVID response
• APA urges congressional leadership to advance policies providing equitable access to health care in rural America
• Collaborating with HRSA to meet mental health needs

February 17, 2021

• Supporting efforts to address learning loss and ensure positive school environments

February 10, 2021

• APA continues to fight for care for veterans with mental health conditions who were inappropriately separated from military service
• APA fights for telehealth and prescribing authority in comments to the Department of Veterans Affairs
• Empowering members to advocate for issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community
• Urging fast action on COVID-19 priorities in the 117th Congress
• Urging Congress to extend Medicare sequester moratorium
• APA endorses critical bill to fight maternal health disparities
• APA, educational research community request an increase in funding to conduct “school pulse” research
• As Biden focuses on science, psychologists look to shape administration’s agenda

January 25, 2021

• Supporting administrative actions taken by newly-inaugurated Biden administration
• Advising the National Institute of Mental Health on new research directions to prevent Black youth suicide
• Urging Biden-Harris administration to make tele-behavioral health steps in first 100 days

January 15, 2021

• Promoting prevention of gun violence with Biden transition team

January 11, 2021

• Securing HRSA funding for integrated substance use disorder training
• Securing major wins in fiscal year 2021 omnibus spending bill
• Advancing Medicare telemental health
• Advocating for psychology in COVID-19 relief bill

January 8, 2021

• Advising National Institute of Mental Health on mental health disparities research
• Two steps forward on cannabis research
• APA provides comments to Maternal and Child Health Bureau Strategic Plan

January 7, 2021

• Educating incoming Biden administration on policies and strategies that prevent suicide by firearms
• Highlighting gaps in state plans to ensure equitable distribution of COVID-19 resources

December 17, 2020

• Reducing rising rates of suicides among farmers and ranchers in rural America

December 14, 2020

• Calling on Biden administration to address Title IX and sexual misconduct in education
• APA informs efforts to advance services for children and families with special health care needs
• APA successfully advances priorities in two major military and veterans bills
• APA joins the Coalition for National Science Funding in making key policy recommendations to the Biden transition team
• APA and scientific, public health communities urge President-elect Biden to prioritize NIH research and funding

December 10, 2020

• APA comments on the draft NIH-wide COVID-19 strategic plan
• APA joins research community in urging congress to reach an agreement on FY 2021 funding and emergency COVID-19 relief
• Commemorating 50 years of alcohol research at the National Institute of Health

December 8, 2020

• Calling on the incoming Biden administration to address student loan debt

December 4, 2020

• Urging Congress to increase funding for remote learning

Nov. 17, 2020

• APA invites applications for its 2021-22 Congressional and Executive Branch Science fellowships
• Psychological Science Agenda spotlights Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
• APA advocated successfully for appropriations language in support of research with animals
• Opposing changes to work visas for foreign psychologists
• Psychological science informs APA response to Department of Labor request for information
• APA and PREVENTS Task Force team up to provide suicide prevention webinars

Nov. 13, 2020

• Bolstering the education workforce impacted by COVID-19

Nov. 2, 2020

• APA fights to reverse Texas rule that would allow social workers to turn away patients who are LGBTQ or have a disability
• Calling for an end to unnecessary privatization of COVID-19 data reporting protocols
• APA-supported mental health and suicide prevention bills signed into law
• Prioritizing COVID-19 vaccine distribution
• Psychologists receive grants to conduct research on gun violence
• APA joins diverse coalition pushing to end hunger among service members
• Opposing proposed limits to length of study for international students

Oct. 19, 2020

• APA-supported bipartisan National Veterans Suicide Prevention Day resolution agreed to in Senate
• APA and state psychological associations engage in record-breaking effort to protect Medicare reimbursements and policies affecting psychologists
• APA calls upon the Department of Defense and Congress to address obstacles to mental health care access for military service members and their families
• Advocating for congressional action on student loan burden on psychologists during 2020 Digital Hill Day and Advocacy Summit
• APA helps drive recognition of World Mental Health Day in the House of Representatives

Oct. 16, 2020

• APA welcomes new congressional policy fellows
• APA supports congressional briefing highlighting NIDDK’s commitment to health disparities research
• Federal research leaders spotlighted in 'Psychological Science Agenda'
• APA joins coalition letter urging CMS to make Medicare telemental health services permanent

Oct. 6, 2020

• APA joins forces to launch a Friends of National Institute of Mental Health coalition
• Congress funds government through Dec. 11, averting shutdown
• APA-supported bill on improving care for incarcerated pregnant women passes House
• House passes veterans mental health care bills
• Expressing opposition to proposed changes to visas for international students

Sept. 28, 2020

• Supporting national firearms safe storage campaign
• Expanding broadband access to support telehealth, education, and equity

Sept. 22, 2020

• Broad coalition endorses independent practice for Medicare psychologists in all settings
• Responding to Congressional inquiries following testimony before House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee

Sept. 21, 2020

• Research relief for federal science agencies
• APA priorities included in house veterans’ affairs committee legislative hearing
• Scientific community rallies for continued investment in NIH

Sept. 17, 2020

• APA pushes for improved access to benefits for former service members with mental health conditions

Sept. 4, 2020

• Promoting telehealth services coverage in private-sector plans
• Advising the National Institutes of Health on rigor and reproducibility in research with nonhuman animals
• Supporting state psychology association engagement with members of Congress in local advocacy
• Advocating for student debt relief
• Supporting prompt access to Medicaid for inmates reentering society
• Ensuring that investigations of campus sexual misconduct are reflective of psychological science

Aug. 26, 2020

• CMS proposes Medicare payment cuts to psychologists’ services
• APA calls for comprehensive policy changes to end the US racism pandemic
• Urging the incorporation of behavioral research in strategies for COVID-19 vaccine success
• Briefing the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on the mental health needs of Latinx children
• Supporting legislation to strengthen health care systems research agency
• Monitoring non-discrimination in health care regulations

Aug. 11, 2020

• Working collaboratively to support behavioral and psychological research
• Supporting the behavioral health of K-12 students
• APA pushes Facebook to eliminate hate speech
• Supporting expanded access to health care for older minority adults in the COVID-19 pandemic
• Shaping the national drug abuse research plan
• APA urges continued focus on veterans mental health as major bill unanimously passes US Senate
• Kennedy Forum supports Medicare physician definition bill

Aug. 7, 2020

• Supporting critical education and student mental health programs with increases in House funding bill
• Securing increased funding for psychology workforce training programs
• Supporting K-12 students in response to COVID-19
• Ensuring that psychologists in public service receive full student loan benefits through the pandemic

July 29, 2020

• Protecting confidential records of immigrant children’s mental health sessions
• APA-supported bills advance in key House committee’s first ever virtual votes
• Actively supporting DACA recipients and psychologists
• Training women leaders in psychology on effective advocacy
• Providing research and support for House resolution addressing mental health disparities

July 15, 2020

• APA supports permanent expansion of Medicare coverage of mental health services furnished via telehealth
• APA voices opposition to policy targeting international students
• APA urges Congress to invest substantially in mental and behavioral health in the next COVID-19 relief legislation
• Advocating for psychology students and borrowers impacted by COVID-19
• Working to support American Indians and Alaska Natives

July 1, 2020

• APA leadership testifies before House subcommittee on solutions to expand behavioral health access and research
• Providing psychological expertise to US Senate hearing on policing
• Working to protect psychologists from Medicare payment cuts
• Alleviating social isolation and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Advancing research on cannabis: Dose response and growing concerns

June 17, 2020 (PDF, 644KB)

• Write your senators: Boost funding to reimburse COVID-related losses to researchers
• Advocating for extended telehealth flexibility
• Submitting congressional testimony on police reforms
• Improving the federal COVID-19 response in communities of color
• Preserving federal non-discrimination in health-care protections
• Supporting mental health block grant-funded crisis care services
• Calling for extension of telehealth services' expansion
• APA member appointed to new commission on safety and quality in nursing homes

June 3, 2020 (PDF, 644KB)

• Using psychology to address inequality.
• Calling for extension of telehealth policies after COVID-19 emergency.
• Cultivating congressional relationships with state psychological associations.
• Bolstering support for students with disabilities in response to COVID-19.
• Responding to the behavioral health crisis caused by the pandemic.
• Supporting nursing home legislation.

May 20, 2020 (PDF, 207KB)

• Urging Congress to provide emergency funding for mental health.
• Ensuring telehealth coverage in ERISA health plans during the COVID-19 emergency.
• Advocating for psychology students and borrowers impacted by COVID-19.
• Requesting more support for students and educators.
• Calling for a permanent legislative fix for DACA recipients.

May 6, 2020 (PDF, 443KB)

• Integrated advocacy success: Psychologists can now provide phone-only services.
• Encouraging support for COVID-19-related research.
• Advocating for equity in internet access for students learning from home.
• Mitigating COVID-19-related learning loss with state and local leaders.
• Addressing the heightened risk of child abuse and neglect during COVID-19.
• Bolstering federal support for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

April 22, 2020 (PDF, 470KB)

• Requesting better data collection and reporting of COVID-19 health disparities.
• Bringing the social and behavioral science of pandemics to Capitol Hill.
• Seeking to prevent disability-based discrimination in coronavirus cases.
• Supporting psychologists in the public service workforce.
• Addressing housing instability and homelessness spurred by COVID-19.
• Proposing ways to enhance the behavioral and social science infrastructure.

April 8, 2020 (PDF, 194KB)

• Urging the administration to allow audio-only telemental health services for Medicare patients.
• Asking states to waive licensing restrictions in the wake of COVID-19.
• Guiding states and health providers on avoiding disability-based discrimination.
• Supporting students with disabilities.
• Shaping the NIH Strategic Plan Framework.

April 1, 2020 (PDF, 204KB)

• Advocating for psychologists, students and the public in third COVID-19 stimulus package.
• CMS further expands psychologists’ ability to provide telehealth.
• Calling on all states to lift restrictions on telehealth services. 
• Gaining senator support for Medicare audio-only telehealth coverage.

March 24, 2020 (PDF, 424KB)

• Calling for priority behavioral health measures in COVID-19 bill.
• Protecting seniors and individuals with disabilities during COVID-19.
• Advocating for psychology students, campus safety and student mental health during the COVID-19 crisis.

March 18, 2020 (PDF, 416KB)

• Ensuring Medicare patients have access to telehealth during COVID-19 emergency.
• Rallying Congressional support to fully fund critical state block grant for schools.
• Advocating for APA priorities at the National Science Foundation and Department of Justice.

March 2-6, 2020 (PDF, 656KB)

• Working with Capitol Hill to expand access to psychological services and training.
• Supporting immigrants' mental health with new legislation.
• Expanding access to intensive behavioral therapy for obesity care.
• Supporting NIH's ability to fund more science.
• Working with veterans on safe firearms storage.

Feb. 24-28, 2020 (PDF, 247KB)

• In response to coronavirus, reducing barriers to telehealth services.
• Calling for oversight hearings to protect immigrant children.
• Supporting the essential role of research in improving teaching and learning.
• Advocating for APA’s fiscal year 2021 appropriations priorities.

Feb. 16-20, 2020 (PDF, 337KB)

• Calling for immediate halt to sharing confidential psychotherapy notes.
• Raising concerns about possible religious discrimination in care.
• Seeking to improve mental health care and discipline in schools.

Feb. 10-14, 2020 (PDF, 310KB)

• A new advocacy network to mobilize psychologists.
• Urging Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services not to impose major Medicare cuts in 2021.
• Calling for an immediate halt to sharing immigrant youths' confidential psychotherapy notes with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
• Putting the president’s fiscal year 2021 budget in perspective.
• Bringing psychology to new substance use disorder advisory committee.

Feb. 3-7, 2020 (PDF, 337KB)

• Advising Congress on the mental health issues associated with climate change. 
• Speaking out against Medicare’s proposed cuts in reimbursement. 
• Raising awareness about pediatric mental health. 
• Supporting Medicare coverage of services for eating disorders. 

Jan. 27-31, 2020 (PDF, 346KB)

• Working to ease the addiction crisis.
• Raising awareness about traumatic brain injuries in military and veterans.
• Reducing barriers to fentanyl research.
• Speaking out on Supreme Court ruling that could immigrant services.
• Advancing suicide prevention research.
• Advising White House on the research environment.

Jan. 20-24, 2020 (PDF, 369KB)

• Advancing role of psychological pain management.
• Focusing on black youth suicide and mental health.
• Increasing access to whole-person care.
• Improving care for veterans with serious mental illness.

Jan. 13-17, 2020 (359KB)

• Statement on regulatory burden for cannabis researchers.
• Expanding early childhood mental health services.
• Sharing suicide prevention priorities.
• Campaigning to increase access to mental health services.
• Advocating for regulatory changes.
• Welcoming new members of APA Advocacy Coordinating Committee.

Jan. 6-10, 2020 (PDF, 357KB)

• APA's 2020 advocacy priorities.
• Calling for more basic and clinical psychological research.
• Talking with Sen. Gillibrand about health confidentiality.
• Hand-delivering APA report on psychology of immigration to every member of Congress.
• Addressing rural mental health and suicide prevention with Senate committee.