[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 149 (Thursday, October 28, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13390-S13391]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    PROPOSED DELAY IN FUNDING FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I rise today to express my serious 
concern that House and Senate negotiators have agreed to delay for one 
year almost all of the proposed increase in the National Institutes of 
Health (NIH) budget for FY 2000. I strongly disagree with this approach 
to balancing the budget. Fully funding biomedical research at the NIH 
should be one of our

[[Page S13391]]

highest priorities, and I intend to oppose proposals that would delay 
funding for the NIH or fail to provide sufficient funding to ensure 
continued advancement in the field of biomedical research.
  The proposed delay in NIH's authority to use $7.5 billion of its FY 
2000 funding will mean that no new grants could be made until the end 
of the fiscal year. Thus, a one-year freeze will be put on all new 
biomedical research. Moreover, some on-going grants will have to be 
short-funded. For those suffering from life-threatening diseases, a 
one-year delay could be devastating. We cannot imperil continued 
progress in an area as important as biomedical research.
  As our Nation searches for ways to improve health care for all its 
citizens, the need to ensure stability and vitality in biomedical 
research programs is increasingly imperative. Biomedical research has 
fundamentally changed our approach to treating disease and illness and 
has revolutionized the practice of medicine. Through the NIH, the 
Federal government has been the single largest contributor to the 
recent advances made in biomedical research, and NIH research has 
played a major role in the key medical breakthroughs of our time.
  Biomedical research at the NIH has also contributed significantly to 
the growth of this Nation's biotechnology, medical device, and 
pharmaceutical industries. Many of the new drugs and medical devices 
currently in use were developed based on biomedical research supported 
by the NIH. NIH research has paved the way for the development of 
pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries that have 
created millions of high wage jobs.
  The promise of continued breakthroughs in the eradication of disease 
and the overall improvement in public health are contingent upon our 
commitment to supporting our scientists and researchers with adequate 
tools and resources. However, today, only one of three approved 
research proposals can be funded.
  We must maintain our commitment to achieving full funding for 
biomedical research by FY 2002. Last year, we provided NIH with a 
downpayment on the resources it will need to take full advantage of the 
overwhelming opportunities for scientific advancement currently 
available in the field of biomedical research. This year, again we 
started on the right track by including another fifteen percent 
increase in the NIH budget. However, the proposed one percent overall 
budget cut will have a dramatic impact on the grant-making capacity of 
the NIH. As a result of this cut, 500 to 550 fewer grants will be 
awarded by the NIH next year.
  This most recent proposal to require that the NIH delay spending 
approximately $2 billion of its FY 2000 funding until FY 2001, 
essentially revokes the entire increase for next year and goes back on 
our promise to substantially increase NIH funding by 2002. This 
additional funding cut will disrupt and delay research fundamental to 
saving lives and improving public health. It will also critically 
undermine our progress toward securing a strong and stable funding 
stream needed to ensure continued advances in biomedical research.
  The proposed delay in NIH funding for FY 2000 is unconscionable. I 
will oppose it, and I urge the President to veto any conference report 
that includes this proposal.

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