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Doubling of NIH Funding | |
Legislative Update |
January 31, 1997 | |
Doubling of NIH Funding |
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On Tuesday, January 21st, Senators Mack (R-FL), Frist (R-TN), Specter (R-PA), and Gramm (R-TX) joined to sponsor Senate Resolution 15 (S.Res.15), The Biomedical Research Commitment Resolution of 1997. Upon passage, S.Res. 15 would stress the general sentiment of the Senate that appropriations for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) should be increased by 100 percent over the next 5 fiscal years. In short, this resolution calls for doubling the investment in medical research at the NIH over the next 5 years.
While passage and acceptance of this specific resolution by Members of the Senate would have no specific legal impact on the NIH’s appropriation level, it would send a concrete positive message about the importance of federally funded medical research. Already, Senate Appropriations Labor, HHS and Education Subcommittee Chairman Specter has stated publicly that "as Chairman of the subcommittee he is prepared to commit to an increase in the next year’s budget (FY '98) of 7.5 percent, which would amount to some $950 million" for NIH.
We are asking all of you to send letters to Senators Connie Mack, Bill Frist, Alfonse D'Amato, Arlen Specter and Phil Gramm thanking them for their interest and support for a proposed doubling of the NIH budget over the next five years. In addition, thank them for understanding the importance of continued sustenance of medical research funding as a national priority. You must also tell them that you are more than willing to be their "soldiers in the field" in bringing this message to their colleagues in the House and Senate during this and future years’ appropriations battles to ensure that the NIH receives the increases proposed in S.Res. 15.
Letters for the above Senators should be sent to:
The Honorable (full name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510Dear Senator (last name):
In addition, please send a copy of all correspondence to:
JDF Government Relations
1400 I Street, NW
Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
If you have any questions or concerns related to this update please contact Eric Schutt at eschutt@jdfgov.usa.com or 1-800-JDF-1VOTE.
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