Each year, Congress prepares the upcoming year's budget through a series of hearings and markups, hearing from Cabinet secretaries and other agency leadership to inform the budget. In addition to setting funding levels, Congress can also ask federal agencies for updates on specific issues to show what they consider important. They do this by assembling a committee report to accompany each agency's budget. This is a great opportunity for stakeholders to highlight promising initiatives or elevate issues that are important to their communities.
For the first time, the FY26 House Labor and Health and Human Services Appropriations committee report includes language on Sjögren's disease! While report language is not binding like the appropriations laws themselves, agencies are generally expected to follow the report's directives.
This is a major step forward in raising awareness and encouraging more research on Sjögren’s disease. The committee is asking the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to report next year on its research and activities related to diagnosing and treating Sjögren’s disease. We hope this update will be included in the Administration’s budget request for FY27 and help guide future research efforts. You can read the complete language below or by clicking here (page 137):
Sjögren's Disease.—Recognizing that research into Sjögren’s disease can lead to improved care for those living with this disease, the Committee requests an update in the fiscal year 2027 congressional justification on NIH research and other activities related to the diagnosis and treatment of Sjögren’s disease.
Each year, Congress prepares the upcoming year's budget through a series of hearings and markups, hearing from Cabinet secretaries and other agency leadership to inform the budget. In addition to setting funding levels, Congress can also ask federal agencies for updates on specific issues to show what they consider important. They do this by assembling a committee report to accompany each agency's budget. This is a great opportunity for stakeholders to highlight promising initiatives or elevate issues that are important to their communities.
For the first time, the FY26 House Labor and Health and Human Services Appropriations committee report includes language on Sjögren's disease! While report language is not binding like the appropriations laws themselves, agencies are generally expected to follow the report's directives.
This is a major step forward in raising awareness and encouraging more research on Sjögren’s disease. The committee is asking the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to report next year on its research and activities related to diagnosing and treating Sjögren’s disease. We hope this update will be included in the Administration’s budget request for FY27 and help guide future research efforts. You can read the complete language below or by clicking here (page 137):
Sjögren's Disease.—Recognizing that research into Sjögren’s disease can lead to improved care for those living with this disease, the Committee requests an update in the fiscal year 2027 congressional justification on NIH research and other activities related to the diagnosis and treatment of Sjögren’s disease.