Hey Community Members
#ICYMI, earlier today AAMC President and CEO
@David Skorton, MD, and Chief Public Policy Officer Danielle Turnipseed, JD, MHSA, MPP, issued the following statement upon renewal of the charter for the Congressional Academic Medicine Caucus by U.S. Representatives Greg Murphy, MD (R-N.C.) and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.):
"The AAMC thanks Dr. Murphy and Representative Castor for relaunching and serving as co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Academic Medicine Caucus for the 118th Congress. Academic medicine is inextricably connected to the health of patients, families, and communities nationwide. This caucus provides a forum for congressional members and staff to engage in a constructive and informative dialogue about the opportunities and challenges surrounding key issues that impact the academic medicine community and the patients they serve. In addition, the caucus is committed to identifying bipartisan solutions to pressing issues facing our nation's health care system.
Created in 2009, the caucus is committed to recognizing the vital role that medical schools, teaching hospitals, and their faculty physicians play in improving the health of people everywhere. The caucus will highlight priorities such as expanding graduate medical education, including strengthening and diversifying the health care workforce; securing the health care safety net; bolstering medical research and innovation; addressing the financial pressures facing academic medicine; promoting health equity; improving patient care; and helping academic medical centers continue to serve their communities as trusted partners and vital economic engines.
We look forward to working with Reps. Murphy and Castor to grow the bipartisan membership of the caucus and highlight the patient care, health professions training, groundbreaking research, and community collaborations at medical schools and teaching hospitals across the country."
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Stephanie Weiner
Director, Digital Strategy & Engagement
Association of American Medical Colleges
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-07-2021 08:54:04 AM
From: Arielle Beer
Subject: For Your Learning Friday: What does a congressional caucus really do?
Last month, Reps. Kathy Castor (D-Fl.) and David McKinley (R-W.Va.) relaunched the Congressional Academic Medicine Caucus, a bipartisan group of legislators that seeks to promote and recognize the important role that medical schools, teaching hospitals, and faculty physicians play in improving health.
But what does a congressional caucus really do? And how is it different from a committee?
While we know you learned this in high school civics class just a few short years ago (wink wink), we're happy to offer a little refresher here.
Senators and representatives generally work together through various committees and caucuses to advance mutual goals and review proposed legislation and broader issues. Members of Congress typically serve on more than one committee and on multiple caucuses related to issues they are most passionate about.
A committee is a subgroup within the House or Senate comprised of members with specialized knowledge of the subject matter under its jurisdiction. Committees monitor ongoing governmental operations, identify issues suitable for legislative review, gather and evaluate information, and recommend courses of action to their parent body.
A caucus is an informal organization made up of members of Congress who share a mutual interest or concern about the subject matter. Caucus members might engage in legislative research and policy planning.
Members of the Congressional Academic Medicine Caucus share a mutual interest in the issues of academic medicine. They will work to educate their other colleagues in Congress on the unique health care, research, and training missions of medical schools and teaching hospitals. The AAMC works closely with the members of this caucus to understand federal policy that impacts member institutions.
Have questions? Let us know in the comments section!
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Arielle Beer
Lead Public Affairs Specialist
Association of American Medical Colleges
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