WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden announced the administration’s efforts to expand research on women’s health care during a Women’s History Month reception at the White House on Monday.
“Too many of our medications, treatments and medical school textbooks are based on men and their bodies, but that ends today,” the first lady said.
President Biden signed an executive order on Monday that will ensure women’s health research is prioritized within federal agencies and identify gaps in funding.
“With the executive order I’m about to sign, I’m directing the most comprehensive set of executive actions ever taken to improve women’s health,” Biden said.
The president and first lady also announced more than 20 new actions and commitments to fund new women’s health research. This includes $200 million in investments for Fiscal Year 2025.
“Think of all the breakthroughs we’ve made in medicine across the board, but women have not been the focus. Research has taken much too long to get to you all,” Biden said.
The president previously called on Congress to support the “Fund for Women’s Health Research” during his State of the Union Address. The $12 billion investment would be used to create a fund focused on women’s health care at the National Institute of Health.
In February, the first lady also announced $100 million in funding for women’s health.
