[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 157 (Wednesday, October 11, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1909]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



[[Page E 1909]]


                     MEDICAL RESEARCH'S POPULARITY

                                 ______


                        HON. JOHN EDWARD PORTER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 11, 1995

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, as Congress moves to streamline government, 
we are faced with the responsibility of carefully reviewing each and 
every program to determine whether and to what extent proposed spending 
can be justified. As chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services, 
Education Appropriations Subcommittee, I have found medical research at 
the National Institutes of Health to be one of our most vital 
endeavors. Federally supported biomedical research produces treatments 
to combat disease and injury, helping people live longer, healthier 
lives. On the economic side, the United States leads the world in 
biomedical research and development. Federally supported biomedical 
research creates high-skill jobs and supports an industry that 
generates a growing economy and a positive balance of trade for our 
country. In addition, the total costs associated with NIH since its 
inception have been more than paid for in terms of health care savings 
from just one discovery. And there have been thousands. The payback is 
tremendous.
  The value of the medical research is widely held and supported by the 
American people. This fact is corroborated by a recent Harris Poll, the 
highlights of which I am including:


           americans oppose cuts in medical research dollars

       Respondents were told that one impact of proposed changes 
     in the Federal budget would be less money going to 
     universities and their hospitals which teach medical students 
     and do medical research. When asked whether they favored or 
     opposed these changes in the Federal budget, 65 percent 
     opposed proposed cuts in Federal support for universities and 
     hospitals.
       The younger those surveyed, the higher their response--
     among 18- to 24-year-olds, the opposition to the proposed 
     cuts rises to 75 percent and among 25- to 29-year-olds, the 
     opposition to the proposed cuts is 72 percent.


      americans would pay higher taxes to support medical research

       Seventy-three percent would be willing to pay a dollar more 
     per week in taxes if they knew the money would be spent on 
     medical research to better diagnose, prevent, and treat 
     disease.
       Results from a November 1993 Harris poll were very 
     similar--74 percent were willing to pay a dollar more per 
     week in taxes if spent on medical research.


americans urge congress to provide tax incentives for private industry 
                      to conduct medical research

       Sixty-one percent of those surveyed want their Senators and 
     Representatives to support legislation that would give tax 
     credits to private industries to conduct more medical 
     research.


   americans are willing to designate tax refund dollars for medical 
                                research

       Forty-five percent would probably and 15 percent would 
     definitely check off a box on their Federal income tax return 
     to designate tax refund money specifically for medical 
     research.
       When asked how much money they would be willing to 
     designate to medical research, the median amount reported was 
     $23.


americans overwhelmingly value maintaining the united states' position 
                    as a leader in medical research

       Ninety-four percent of those surveyed feel that it is 
     important that the United States maintain its role as a world 
     leader in medical research.


americans heartily endorse having the federal government support basic 
                            science research

       Those surveyed were asked if they agree or disagree with 
     the following: ``Even if it brings no immediate benefits, 
     basic science research which advances the frontiers of 
     knowledge is necessary and should be supported by the Federal 
     Government.''
       Sixty-nine percent of respondents agree and 79 percent of 
     young people ages 18 to 24 agree with the need to support 
     basic research.


 medical research takes second place only to national defense for tax 
                              dollar value

       While 45 percent gave Federal defense spending the highest 
     rating for tax dollar value, second went to medical research 
     with 37 percent of the respondents giving it a favorable tax 
     dollar value.
       Public education and Federal anti-crime effort ranked the 
     lowest.


americans want more information about medical research in the print and 
                            broadcast media

       Sixty-one percent of the Americans surveyed would like to 
     see more medical research information in newspapers, 
     magazines, and on television.
       Seventy-seven percent of young people 18 to 24 want more 
     medical research information from these sources.

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