March 7, 2024—The Society for Women’s Health Research released the following statement in response to the 2024 State of the Union Address, delivered by President Joe Biden on March 7, 2024.
The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) was thrilled to hear President Joe Biden, as part of his State of the Union Address, call on Congress to make bold, transformational investments in women’s health research. From last November’s announcement about the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research to the February 2024 announcement about a $100 million investment from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) for women’s health research to today’s State of the Union, the Biden Administration is affirming its commitment to closing the gender gap in women’s health research and is bringing us one step closer to achieving equity and parity in the health of women.
SWHR has long called for increasing our nation’s investment in women’s health and sex differences research, enhancing the federal prioritization and coordination of women’s health research, and strengthening the collection and sharing of data to improve accountability and ultimately, outcomes.
In tonight’s State of the Union, President Biden announced the administration would be committing $12 billion to women’s health research, helping to fulfill the pledge of the White House Initiative to transform the landscape of women’s health research funding in the United States.
“To state the obvious, women are more than half of our population, but research in women’s health has always been underfunded. That’s why we’re launching the first-ever White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research, led by Jill [Biden]…”
Among the administration’s plans, as outlined in a White House Fact Sheet, include supporting a new fund at the National Institutes of Health “to advance an interdisciplinary research agenda and create a new nationwide network of research centers of excellence and innovation in women’s health” and catalyzing private and philanthropic commitments to increase funding for women’s health research.
SWHR applauds President Biden, Dr. Jill Biden, White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research Chair Dr. Carolyn Mazure, and the rest of the administration for taking the stance that women’s health research must be at the forefront of national policy, as well as Maria Shriver for carrying the message of the importance of advancing women’s health research. As President Biden said in his address, “Women’s health research can benefit millions of lives all across America.” Our nation’s women, their families, and the U.S. economy will all reap the rewards of these investments.
SWHR is committed to supporting President Biden and the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research team, and we stand ready to assist our colleagues in Congress and the administration to ensure these recommendations become reality. It is long past time to make women’s health mainstream.