Maryland, Virginia Lawmakers Urge Congressional Leaders to Leave Door Open to ARPA-H in the National Capital Region | U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland

December 05, 2022

“As a way to stay as much as its promise to advance breakthrough scientific analysis, ARPA-H, like its mannequin DARPA, should be capable of discover a location with one of the best bodily and human infrastructure to assist its mission.”

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined lawmakers from throughout Maryland and Virginia in urging congressional leaders to permit most flexibility when the administration selects a location for the newly created Superior Analysis Tasks Company for Well being (ARPA-H). The letter led by Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) is signed along with Senator Van Hollen by Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (each D-Va.), in addition to Representatives Steny Hoyer (Md.-5), Bobby Scott (Va.-3), Dutch Ruppersberger (Md.-2), John Sarbanes (Md.-3), Gerald Connolly (Va.-11), Kweisi Mfume (Md.-7), Donald Beyer (Va.-8), Anthony Brown (Md.-4), Jamie Raskin (Md.-8), Abigail Spanberger (Va.-7), David Trone (Md.-6) and Jennifer Wexton (Va.-10), the bicameral group of lawmakers “respectfully request the omission of language in any invoice or committee report that restricts the situation of the company.” This is available in response to options that Congress place statutory restrictions on ARPA-H being throughout the Nationwide Capital Area.

The total letter might be discovered right here and under.

Expensive Majority Chief Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, Minority Chief McConnell, and Minority Chief McCarthy,

Thanks to your ongoing work to assist the Superior Analysis Tasks Company for Well being (ARPA-H). As work on an finish of 12 months bundle advances, we write to respectfully request the omission of language in any invoice or committee report that restricts the situation of the company.

We commend your efforts to make sure ARPA-H can obtain its objective of advancing biomedical and well being analysis in modern methods. Nevertheless, some ARPA-H proposals have steered authorizing the company whereas inserting a statutory restriction on its location, corresponding to a prohibition on ARPA-H being positioned throughout the Nationwide Capital Area (which incorporates Washington, D.C., Alexandria, Fairfax Metropolis, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park, and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Montgomery, and Prince George’s). This restriction could be each arbitrary and pointless, and it will hinder the company from utilizing a very goal course of to find out one of the best location.

ARPA-H was proposed as a biomedical model of the Pentagon’s Protection Superior Analysis Tasks Company (DARPA). A legislative restriction on DARPA’s location was not obligatory for the company to perform its groundbreaking work. As you already know, DARPA is, in truth, positioned in shut proximity to the Pentagon, which permits for shut collaboration however independence from the Division of Protection.

As a way to stay as much as its promise to advance breakthrough scientific analysis, ARPA-H, like its mannequin DARPA, should be capable of discover a location with one of the best bodily and human infrastructure to assist its mission. Ought to laws with regional location restrictions advance, not solely would ARPA-H be harmed, however different federal businesses might be subjected to related provisions sooner or later and threat shedding entry to essential sources.

We’re excited concerning the alternatives ARPA-H must advance well being analysis and sit up for working with you to make sure the company has the sources important to success.

Sincerely,