Endocrine Society Advocates on behalf of its Members on Variety of Policy Issues

The Endocrine Society maintains a Government and Public Affairs Department that staffs the organization’s advocacy activities.  This Spring the Society has worked on a variety of policy issues that affect our members.  This includes:

• Expanding support for women’s health research
• Funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Insulin affordability
• Obesity Coverage
• Physician payment
• Regulation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)

We have provided additional details on some of these topics below.  If you are interested in learning more, please contact advocacy@endocrine.org or visit: endocrine.org/advocacy.

President’s Budget Calls for Significant Cuts to NIH

Last month, the White House released the administration’s fiscal year 2027 budget request to Congress. The request includes significant funding cuts for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and proposes some restructuring that would eliminate three institutes/centers. Specifically, the administration calls for the elimination of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the Fogarty International Center, and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Also slated for elimination are specific initiatives within the National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The rest of the NIH would see an overall budget reduction of $5 billion.

the Endocrine Society will continue to analyze budget documents from the White House and the agencies to understand how these cuts will impact our members and we will update the Society’s website and share through Endocrine News.

The president’s budget is only a proposal, and it now falls to Congress to make final spending decisions through the appropriations process. The Endocrine Society conducted a “Hill Day” earlier this year to connect some of our members in key states with their representative and senators’ offices to share our message about the importance of funding research and our recommendation to provide $51.3 billion for the NIH in the coming fiscal year. We also have led and worked with several coalitions of patient advocacy and professional organizations to share our message.  Most recently we created a statement opposing the requested budget and urging Congress to not only increase funding but also to protect the NIH from policies recommended in the president’s Budget Request that would harm research, such as arbitrary caps on indirect costs, multi-year funding, delaying awards and convening advisory councils, and restructuring the NIH by eliminating institutes and Ccenters. 

It is also critical that all representatives and senators hear from the medical research community about how these proposed cuts would affect research programs and jeopardize public health. U.S.-based Endocrine Society members can take action through our online advocacy campaign (endocrine.org/advocacy/take-action) to urge Congress to increase funding for medical research.

As more details are made available, the Endocrine Society will continue to analyze budget documents from the White House and the agencies to understand how these cuts will impact our members and we will update the Society’s website and share through Endocrine News.

Urge Your Senators to Make Insulin More Affordable by Supporting the INSULIN Act 

The Endocrine Society successfully advocated for the introduction of historic legislation to make insulin more affordable that was introduced in the Senate. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced the Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act of 2026. 

The INSULIN Act would expand the $35 monthly cap on out-of-pocket insulin costs, currently available for Medicare beneficiaries, to those with private insurance. The legislation also would create a program to provide lower-cost insulin to the uninsured. The Endocrine Society has endorsed this bipartisan legislation, and we need your help asking your senators to cosponsor and advance the INSULIN Act in the Senate HELP Committee. 

It is imperative that your senators hear from you about the importance of cosponsoring this legislation and supporting this bill. We urge all Endocrine Society members to take action today and ask your Senators to cosponsor and pass this legislation quickly. You can take action today by visiting: endocrine.org/advocacy/take-action.   

Endocrine Society Recognized for Advocacy in the European Union

Last month, the European Parliament voted on revisions to the Cosmetics Regulation under the Chemicals Omnibus. Prior to the vote, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) had a chance to introduce amendments to the proposed legislation from the European Commission to achieve a majority vote in the Parliament. Recognizing that cosmetics are a source of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), the Endocrine Society and European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) drafted a joint letter to MEPs on the Environment (ENVI) and Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committees urging them to adopt amendments that would strengthen the regulation and reduce exposure to EDCs.

Important protections were included in the negotiated text that we advocated for, including restrictions on carcinogens, mutagens, and reprotoxic substances without exemption for certain routes of exposure. Additionally, and consistent with our requested amendments proposal, a faster timeline for restrictions on hazardous substances is included to ensure that implementation of regulations moves quickly.

Important protections were included in the negotiated text that we advocated for, including restrictions on carcinogens, mutagens, and reprotoxic substances without exemption for certain routes of exposure.

Our societies faced an uphill battle as the chemicals industry lobbied extensively to weaken the overall regulation.  Martin Hojsik, vice president of the European Parliament, responded to our letter saying that our support was “crucial” as very few organizations contacted the Parliament in support of stronger standards for safe cosmetics. We will continue to work with ESE on all aspects of the Chemicals Omnibus as they come up for debate to urge policymakers in the EU to implement strong regulations to minimize exposure to EDCs throughout consumer products.

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