[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 437 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 437

 To express the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal 
investment in biomedical research should be increased by $2,700,000,000 
                          in fiscal year 2001.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 9, 2000

 Mr. Gekas (for himself, Mr. Bentsen, Mr. Callahan, Mrs. Morella, Mr. 
    Nethercutt, Ms. Pelosi, and Mr. Porter) submitted the following 
      resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 To express the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal 
investment in biomedical research should be increased by $2,700,000,000 
                          in fiscal year 2001.

Whereas past Federal investment in biomedical research has 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 is 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 new drugs and medical devices currently in use is 
        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 43,300 women this year; ovarian cancer, 
        which will kill 14,500; 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 immunodeficiency 
        disorders;
Whereas many Americans 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 2.7 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 297,000 Americans are now suffering from AIDS, and hundreds of thousands 
        more are infected with HIV;
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 six American men will develop prostate 
        cancer and over 40,000 men will die from prostate cancer each year;
Whereas juvenile diabetes and diabetes, both insulin and non-insulin forms, 
        afflict 16 million Americans and place them at risk for acute and 
        chronic complications, including blindness, kidney failure, 
        atherosclerosis, and nerve degeneration;
Whereas the emerging understanding of the principles of biometrics 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, and diagnostic 
        and analytical reagents;
Whereas research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health will map and 
        sequence the entire human genome by 2003, 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 development of new skills among 
        scientific investigators; and
Whereas most Americans overwhelmingly support 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 2000''.

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 $2,700,000,000 
in fiscal year 2001 and that the budget resolution should appropriately 
reflect sufficient funds to achieve this objective.
                                 <all>