The Honorable Mike Johnson The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries Speaker Minority Leader U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable John Thune Majority The Honorable Charles Schumer Minority Majority Leader Minority Leader U.S. Senate U.S. Senate Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510
Dear Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries, Leader Schumer, and Leader Thune:
On behalf of the National Health Council (NHC) and the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS), we write to express our strong opposition to the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget cuts that would weaken our nation’s medical research infrastructure and undermine the trusted relationship between patients and their physicians. The United States is widely regarded as the global gold standard in research, and sustained investment is essential to maintain this leadership for the benefit of all.
Together, we represent a broad community of patient organizations, medical societies, clinicians, researchers, and the millions of people living with chronic diseases, disabilities, and complex conditions. We are united in advancing a health system that is science-based, patient-centered, and accessible to all.
The patient physician relationship depends on trust, clinical expertise, and access to evidence. Public policy should support this connection by investing in research and protecting clinical decisions, not limiting it through funding cuts or restrictions on care. Patients and clinicians rely on continued access to innovative, effective treatments to manage chronic conditions and disabilities.
We urge Congress to reject the proposed cuts and instead increase sustained investment in federal research and public health programs that drive medical progress and improve health outcomes. This includes support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and other science-based agencies.
The NHC and CMSS remain committed to working together to ensure that every person has access to evidence-based, person-centered care guided by the highest standards of science and ethics.
Randall Rutta Chief Executive Officer National Health Council
The National Health Council (NHC) brings diverse organizations together to promote increased access to affordable, high-value, sustainable, equitable health care. Made up of more than 180 national health-related organizations and businesses, the NHC’s core membership includes the nation’s leading patient organizations. Other members include health-related associations and nonprofits including the provider, research, and family caregiver communities; and businesses representing biopharmaceutical, device, diagnostic, generic drug, and payer organizations. Learn more at www.nationalhealthcouncil.org.
Helen Burstin, MD, MPH, MACP Chief Executive Officer Council of Medical Specialty Societies
The Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) is a coalition of more than 50 specialty societies representing more than 800,000 physicians across the house of medicine. CMSS advances the expertise and collective voice of specialty societies and the patients they serve to drive meaningful change in the future of healthcare. www.cmss.org
NHC and CMSS Comments on Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Cuts (PDF)
July 1, 2025
The Honorable Mike Johnson The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries
Speaker Minority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable John Thune Majority The Honorable Charles Schumer Minority
Majority Leader Minority Leader
U.S. Senate U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510
Dear Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries, Leader Schumer, and Leader Thune:
On behalf of the National Health Council (NHC) and the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS), we write to express our strong opposition to the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget cuts that would weaken our nation’s medical research infrastructure and undermine the trusted relationship between patients and their physicians. The United States is widely regarded as the global gold standard in research, and sustained investment is essential to maintain this leadership for the benefit of all.
Together, we represent a broad community of patient organizations, medical societies, clinicians, researchers, and the millions of people living with chronic diseases, disabilities, and complex conditions. We are united in advancing a health system that is science-based, patient-centered, and accessible to all.
The patient physician relationship depends on trust, clinical expertise, and access to evidence. Public policy should support this connection by investing in research and protecting clinical decisions, not limiting it through funding cuts or restrictions on care. Patients and clinicians rely on continued access to innovative, effective treatments to manage chronic conditions and disabilities.
We urge Congress to reject the proposed cuts and instead increase sustained investment in federal research and public health programs that drive medical progress and improve health outcomes. This includes support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and other science-based agencies.
The NHC and CMSS remain committed to working together to ensure that every person has access to evidence-based, person-centered care guided by the highest standards of science and ethics.
Randall Rutta
Chief Executive Officer
National Health Council
The National Health Council (NHC) brings diverse organizations together to promote increased access to affordable, high-value, sustainable, equitable health care. Made up of more than 180 national health-related organizations and businesses, the NHC’s core membership includes the nation’s leading patient organizations. Other members include health-related associations and nonprofits including the provider, research, and family caregiver communities; and businesses representing biopharmaceutical, device, diagnostic, generic drug, and payer organizations. Learn more at www.nationalhealthcouncil.org.
Helen Burstin, MD, MPH, MACP
Chief Executive Officer
Council of Medical Specialty Societies
The Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) is a coalition of more than 50 specialty societies representing more than 800,000 physicians across the house of medicine. CMSS advances the expertise and collective voice of specialty societies and the patients they serve to drive meaningful change in the future of healthcare. www.cmss.org