We encourage you to reach out to your U.S. Representative in Congress to show your support for the Harley Jacobsen Act (H.R. 4184). You can do so in the following ways:
Letter Supporting the Harley Jacobsen Clinical Trial Participation Income Exemption Act
Dear Rep. [Member of Congress],
As a constituent and advocate for medical research, I urge you to support the bipartisan Harley Jacobsen Clinical Trial Participation Income Exemption Act (H.R. 4184) — legislation that is essential to removing barriers that prevent Americans from participating in vital clinical research.
Clinical trials are the foundation of medical progress, yet more than 100 million Americans — roughly 27% of our population — are effectively barred from participating due to an unintended consequence of our tax code. Current law treats payments to clinical trial participants as taxable income, which can disqualify low-income patients from receiving critical benefits like Medicaid, SNAP, and other social welfare programs.
This creates a cruel choice: participate in research that could lead to life-saving treatments for others, or maintain access to the healthcare and support services you need to survive. No one should be forced to choose between contributing to medical science and keeping their essential benefits.
Unfortunately, this tax burden disproportionately impacts the very populations we most need in clinical trials — diverse, underserved communities whose participation is crucial for developing treatments that work for all Americans.
Clinical research is a public necessity, and those who volunteer their time, health, and wellbeing to advance medical knowledge are performing a crucial public service. They should be supported and celebrated — not penalized by our tax system.
The Harley Jacobsen Act would make all clinical trial compensation tax-exempt, ensuring that financial barriers don’t prevent willing participants from contributing to the development of tomorrow’s cures. This simple change would dramatically expand access to clinical trials and accelerate the pace of medical breakthroughs.
Please support the Harley Jacobsen Clinical Trial Participation Income Exemption Act (H.R. 4184) to support medical innovation and ensure that all Americans can contribute to advancing the treatments that will save lives across our country.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
Hello, my name is _______________ and I am a constituent in Rep. [Member of Congress]’s district, at [your address]. I am calling to urge Rep. [Member of Congress] to support the Harley Jacobsen Clinical Trial Participation Income Exemption Act. The bill number is H.R. 4184, and it’s a bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan.
This bill will remove tax barriers that currently prevent more than 100 million Americans from participating in clinical trials. Right now, people who volunteer for medical research can lose their Medicaid, SNAP, and other essential benefits because trial payments count as taxable income.
This forces individuals to choose between participating in research that could lead to life-saving treatments for others, or maintaining access to the healthcare and support services they need to survive. No one should be forced to choose between contributing to medical science and keeping their essential benefits.
Clinical research is a public necessity, and those who volunteer their time, health, and wellbeing to advance medical knowledge are performing a crucial public service. They should be supported and celebrated — not penalized by our tax system.
That’s why I’m calling to encourage Rep. [Member of Congress] to support the Harley Jacobsen Act.
Thank you.
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