[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 363 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 363

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal 
investment in biomedical research should be increased by $2,000,000,000 
                          in fiscal year 1999.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 12, 1998

    Mr. Gekas (for himself and Mr. Porter) submitted the following 
      resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal 
investment in biomedical research should be increased by $2,000,000,000 
                          in fiscal year 1999.

Whereas past investments in biomedical research have resulted in better health, 
        an improved quality of life for all Americans and a reduction in 
        national health care expenditures;
Whereas the Nation's commitment to biomedical research has expanded the base of 
        scientific knowledge about health and disease and revolutionized the 
        practice of medicine;
Whereas the Federal Government represents the single largest contributor to 
        biomedical research conducted in the United States;
Whereas biomedical research continues to play a vital role in the growth of this 
        Nation's biotechnology, medical device, and pharmaceutical industries;
Whereas the origin of many of the new drugs and medical devices currently in use 
        is based in biomedical research supported by the National Institutes of 
        Health;
Whereas women have traditionally been underrepresented in medical research 
        protocols, yet are severely affected by diseases including breast 
        cancer, which will kill over 44,000 women this year; ovarian cancer 
        which will claim another 14,800 lives; and, osteoporosis and 
        cardiovascular disorders;
Whereas research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health is responsible 
        for the identification of genetic mutations relating to nearly 100 
        diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, cystic fibrosis, Huntington's 
        disease, osteoporosis, many forms of cancer, and immune deficiency 
        disorders;
Whereas many Americans still face serious and life-threatening health problems, 
        both acute and chronic;
Whereas neurodegenerative diseases of the elderly, such as Alzheimer's and 
        Parkinson's disease threaten to destroy the lives of millions of 
        Americans, overwhelm the Nation's health care system, and bankrupt the 
        Medicare and Medicaid programs;
Whereas 33 million Americans annually suffer from injuries resulting from 
        trauma;
Whereas 4 million Americans are currently infected with the hepatitis C virus, 
        an insidious liver condition that can lead to inflammation, cirrhosis, 
        and cancer as well as liver failure;
Whereas 200,000 Americans are now suffering from AIDS and hundreds of thousands 
        more with HIV infection;
Whereas cancer remains a comprehensive threat to any tissue or organ of the body 
        at any age, and remains a top cause of morbidity and mortality;
Whereas the extent of psychiatric and neurological diseases poses considerable 
        challenges in understanding the workings of the brain and nervous 
        system;
Whereas recent advances in the treatment of HIV illustrate the promise research 
        holds for even more effective, accessible, and affordable treatments for 
        persons with HIV;
Whereas infants and children are the hope of our future, yet they continue to be 
        the most vulnerable and underserved members of our society;
Whereas approximately one out of every five American men will develop prostate 
        cancer and over 40,000 men will die from prostate cancer each year;
Whereas diabetes, both insulin and non-insulin forms, afflicts 16 million 
        Americans and places them at risk for acute and chronic complications, 
        including blindness, kidney failure, atherosclerosis and nerve 
        degeneration;
Whereas the emerging understanding of the principles of biomimetrics have been 
        applied to the development of hard tissue such as bone and teeth as well 
        as soft tissue, and this field of study holds great promise for the 
        design of new classes of biomaterials, pharmaceuticals, diagnostic and 
        analytical reagents;
Whereas research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health will map and 
        sequence the entire human genome by 2005, leading to a new era of 
        molecular medicine that will provide unprecedented opportunities for the 
        prevention, diagnoses, treatment, and cure of diseases that currently 
        plague society;
Whereas the fundamental way science is conducted is changing at a revolutionary 
        pace, demanding a far greater investment in emerging new technologies, 
        research training programs, and in developing new skills among 
        scientific investigators;
Whereas this proposal is the first step toward doubling the National Institutes 
        of Health funding in five years;
Whereas funds necessary to meet this proposal may come from budget surpluses, 
        budget offsets, and the regular appropriations process;
Whereas the American economy's outstanding performance may result in budget 
        surpluses, which the American people support using to increase 
        biomedical research funded by the National Institutes of Health; and
Whereas polling data shows that Americans support a doubling of the Federal 
        investment in biomedical research: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This resolution may be cited as the ``Biomedical Revitalization 
Resolution of 1998''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

    It is the sense of the House of Representatives that funding for 
the National Institutes of Health should be increased by $2,000,000,000 
in fiscal year 1999 and that the budget resolution appropriately 
reflect sufficient funds to achieve this objective.
                                 <all>