[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 79 (Wednesday, June 21, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H4915]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the federal 
government's commitment for increased funding for the National 
Institutes of Health (NIH). My colleagues and I have urged the 
appropriators since 1998 to double NIH's budget over 5 years. The 
distinguished gentleman from Illinois, Chairman Porter has been an avid 
supporter of these requests and as a result, the budget has seen the 
appropriate increases each year.
  As a member of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, Alzheimer's Task 
Force, Biomedical Research Caucus and Working Group on Parkinson's 
Disease, I have met with countless individuals who ask each year that 
Congress invest more money into research funding at NIH. And each year 
I am proud to be able to report back that the House has been able to 
fulfill this request. More than half of my constituents who visit my 
office each year, come to discuss research funding and the budget 
request for NIH. Scientists are confident that with recent dramatic 
developments in technology over the past decade, that they are on the 
verge of making significant discoveries for both cures and vaccines for 
a number of diseases from diabetes and cancer to AIDS and Parkinsons.
  With the continued support from this Congress by way of dollars for 
research, NIH will be able to continue making advances toward the 
eradication of countless diseases that afflict millions of Americans 
and countless others around the world. I am pleased to report back to 
my constituents that this Congress is continuing its support of medical 
research and I look forward to continue the fight for NIH and its 
committed scientists and doctors.

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