[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 23, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7527-S7528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HARKIN (for himself, Mr. Frist, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Chafee, 
        Mr. Reed, Mr. Mack, Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Cleland, Mr. 
        Helms, Mr. Warner, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Durbin, Mr. 
        Moynihan, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Roberts, and Mr. Reid):
  S. 1268. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide 
support for the modernization and construction of biomedical and 
behavioral research facilities and laboratory instrumentation; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

[[Page S7528]]

             21st century research laboratories act of 1999

  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce the 
Twenty-First Century Research Laboratories Act of 1999. I am joined in 
this effort by Senators Frist, Kennedy, Chafee, Reed of Rhode Island, 
Mack, Mikulski, Murray, Cleland, Helms, Warner, Sarbanes, Schumer, 
Cochran, Durbin, Moynihan, Boxer, Roberts, and Reid of Nevada. I want 
to thank my colleagues for cosponsoring this legislation.
  First though, let me say how pleased I was that we were able to 
provide the biggest increase ever for medical research last year. The 
Conference Agreement of the Fiscal 1999 Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, 
provided a $2 billion, or 15 percent, increase for the National 
Institutes of Health. And this year, I and Senator Specter will 
continue our work to make sure that Congress stays on course to double 
funding for the NIH over the next five years, a target that was agreed 
to by the Senate, 98 to 0, in 1997.
  However, as Congress embarks on this important investment in improved 
health, we must strengthen the totality of the biomedical research 
enterprise. While it is critical to focus on high quality, cutting edge 
basic and clinical research, we must also consider the quality of the 
laboratories and buildings where that research is being conducted.
  In fact, Mr. President, the infrastructure of research institutions, 
including the need for new physical facilities, is central to our 
nation's leadership in medical research. Despite the significant 
scientific advances produced by Federally-funded research, most of that 
research is currently being done in medical facilities built in the 
1950's and 1960's, a time when the Federal Government obligated from 
$30 million to $100 million a year for facility and equipment 
modernization. Since then, however, annual appropriations for 
modernization of our biomedical research infrastructure have 
dramatically declined, ranging from zero to $20 million annually over 
the past decade. As a result, many of our research facilities and 
laboratories are outdated and inadequate to meet the challenge of the 
next millennium.
  In order to realize major medical breakthroughs in Alzheimer's, 
diabetes, Parkinson's, cancer and other major illnesses, our Nation's 
top researchers must have top quality, state-of-the-art laboratories 
and equipment. Unfortunately, the status of our research infrastructure 
is woefully inadequate.
  A recent study by the National Science Foundation finds that academic 
institutions have deferred, due to lack of funds, nearly $11.4 billion 
in repair, renovation, and construction projects. Almost one quarter of 
all research space requires either major renovation or replacement and 
70% of medical schools report having inadequate space in which to 
perform biomedical research.
  A separate study by the National Science Foundation documents the 
laboratory equipment needs of researchers and found that 67 percent of 
research institutions reported an increased need for laboratory 
instruments. At the same time, the report found that spending for such 
instruments at colleges and universities actually declined in the early 
1990's.
  Several other prominent organizations have documented the need for 
increased funding for research infrastructure. A March 1998 report by 
the Association of American Medical Colleges stated that ``The 
government should reestablish and fund a National Institutes of Health 
construction authority. . . .'' A June 1998 report by the Federation of 
American Societies of Experimental Biology stated that ``Laboratories 
must be built and equipped for the science of the 21st century . . . 
Infrastructure investments should include renovation of existing space 
as well as new construction, where appropriate.''
  As we work to double funding for medical research over the next five 
years, the already serious shortfall in the modernization of our 
Nation's aging research facilities and labs will continue to worsen 
unless we take specific action. Future increases in NIH must be matched 
with increased funding for repair, renovation and construction of 
research facilities, as well as the purchase of modern laboratory 
equipment.
  Mr. President, the bill we are introducing today expands Federal 
funding for facilities construction and state-of-the-art laboratory 
equipment through the NIH by increasing the authorization for this 
account within the National Center for Research Resources to $250 
million in FY 2000 and $500 million in FY 2001. In addition, the bill 
authorizes a ``Shared Instrumentation Grant Program'' at NIH, to be 
administered by the Center. The program will provide grants for the 
purchase of shared-use, state-of-the-art laboratory equipment costing 
over $100,000. All grants awarded under these two programs will be 
peer-reviewed, as is the practice with all NIH grants and projects.
  We are entering a time of great promise in the field of biomedical 
research. We are on the verge of major breakthroughs which could end 
the ravages of cancer, heart disease, Parkinson's and the scores of 
illnesses and conditions which take the lives and health of millions of 
Americans. But to realize these breakthroughs, we must devote the 
necessary resources to our Nation's research enterprise.
  The Association of American Universities, the Association of American 
Medical Colleges and the Federation of American Societies of 
Experimental Biology have all expressed their support for this 
legislation.
  I hope the rest of my colleagues will soon sign on as cosponsors to 
this important effort to improve the research capacity of this country.
                                 ______