[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 170 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 170

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 29, 1998

 Mr. Specter (for himself, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Frist, Mr. Reed, Ms. Snowe, 
Mr. DeWine, and Mr. D'Amato) submitted the following resolution; which 
              was referred to the Committee on the Budget

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the Senate 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, afflict 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; and
Whereas most Americans show overwhelming support for an increased 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 SENATE.

    It is the sense of the Senate 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.
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