[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 347 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 347

   Expressing the sense of the Senate that in order to seize unique 
scientific opportunities the Federal commitment to biomedical research 
      should be tripled over a ten-year period beginning in 1999.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 17, 2002

 Mr. Specter submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Appropriations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the Senate that in order to seize unique 
scientific opportunities the Federal commitment to biomedical research 
      should be tripled over a ten-year period beginning in 1999.

Whereas past investments in biomedical research have resulted in better health, 
        and improved quality of life for all Americans;
Whereas the Nation's commitment to biomedical research has expanded the base of 
        scientific knowledge regarding health and disease and revolutionized the 
        practice of medicine;
Whereas biomedical research continues to play a vital role in the growth of this 
        Nation's biotechnology, medical device, and pharmaceutical industries;
Whereas the origins of many of the new drugs and medical devices currently in 
        use are based in biomedical research supported by the National 
        Institutes of Health;
Whereas research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health has contributed 
        significantly to the first overall reduction in cancer death rates since 
        recordkeeping was instituted;
Whereas research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health has developed 
        effective treatments for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia;
Whereas research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health in the last 30 
        years has doubled the life expectancy of sickle cell disease patients;
Whereas research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health has resulted in 
        the identification of genetic mutations for osteoporosis, Lou Gehrig's 
        Disease, cystic fibrosis, Huntington's Disease, breast cancer, skin 
        cancer, prostate cancer, and a variety of other illnesses;
Whereas a third of all known genetic defects affect the nervous system, and so 
        far more than 200 genes have been identified that can cause or 
        contribute to neurological disorders, but a better understanding of 
        multiple gene influences on disease risk, progression, and severity is 
        needed;
Whereas research sponsored by the NIH has brought remarkable progress, with the 
        first treatments for acute stroke and spinal cord injury, new immune 
        therapies that ameliorate symptoms and slow the progression of multiple 
        sclerosis, and increased drug and surgical options for Parkinson's 
        disease, epilepsy and chronic pain;
Whereas research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health has been key to 
        the development of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission 
        Tomography (PET), and other imaging technologies;
Whereas the emerging understanding of the principles of biometics has 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 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 muscular dystrophies continue to severely affect the quality of life and 
        shorten the lifespan of many Americans;
Whereas one in one hundred 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 women have traditionally been under-represented in medical research 
        protocols, yet are severely affected by diseases including breast 
        cancer; ovarian cancer; and osteoporosis and cardiovascular disorders;
Whereas cancer remains a comprehensive threat to any tissue or organ of the body 
        at any age, and remains a leading 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, however at least 320,000 Americans are now suffering 
        from AIDS and hundreds of thousands more with HIV infection;
Whereas diabetes, both insulin and non-insulin forms, afflict over 16 million 
        Americans and place them at risk for acute and chronic complications, 
        including blindness, kidney failure, atherosclerosis and nerve 
        degeneration;
Whereas research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health has mapped and 
        sequenced the entire human genome ahead of schedule, thereby ushering in 
        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 an unprecedented variety of new treatments and prevention strategies for 
        neurological disorders are under development, including drugs that are 
        targeted at specific molecular processes, stem cell therapies that 
        replace lost nerve cells, neural prostheses that read control signals 
        directly from the brain, vaccines that target neurodegeneration, 
        implantable electrical stimulators that compensate for brain circuits 
        unbalanced by disease, vectors to repair or replace defective genes, and 
        behavioral interventions that encourage the brain's latent capacity to 
        repair itself;
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 ``Resolution for the Tripling 
of Biomedical Research''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF THE SENATE.

    It is the sense of the Senate that appropriations for the National 
Institutes of Health should be tripled over the ten year period from 
fiscal year 1999 to 2008.
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