WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) participated in a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies to review the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget proposal for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya testified before the committee during the hearing.
Senator Britt used the opportunity to spotlight the United States’ ongoing maternal health crisis, emphasizing that maternal mortality rates remain high, particularly in states like Alabama. “Far too many women in this country are dying from pregnancy-related causes,” Britt said, referencing data that shows Alabama ranks among the highest in the nation for maternal deaths, especially impacting Black women, Native American women, and women in rural areas.
She noted that one-third of Alabama’s 67 counties are considered maternal care deserts, lacking access to birthing facilities or qualified maternal care providers.
During the hearing, Senator Britt highlighted her legislative effort to address these challenges through the NIH IMPROVE Act, a bill she introduced in 2024. The legislation would provide long-term, consistent support for the NIH’s Implementing a Maternal Health and PRegnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Initiative. The program focuses on research into the causes of maternal mortality and strategies to improve pregnancy-related health outcomes. The Act would authorize seven years of funding predictability for the initiative.
In response to Britt’s question about the impact of long-term funding, Director Bhattacharya agreed that extended authorization would strengthen research outcomes.
The discussion also covered broader NIH funding practices and reform. Senator Britt questioned the current system’s reliance on legacy contracts and institutional overhead, advocating for a more competitive environment where research funding is based on innovation rather than institutional prestige.
Director Bhattacharya expressed agreement with Britt’s assessment, stating that the existing model favors a small group of universities and can hinder promising researchers from non-traditional institutions. He endorsed the idea of expanding competition to improve the allocation of resources and foster innovation across the research community.
Senator Britt concluded by affirming her commitment to ensuring NIH dollars are used efficiently and effectively. “We owe it to the American people to ensure that NIH funding and every single dollar of it is driving actual innovation that achieves results, that makes an impact, that saves lives,” she said.
