[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 152 (Monday, December 11, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H12073]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS SPIRALING BEYOND SCOPE OF COMMON SENSE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to comment on an issue which has 
simply spiraled completely beyond the scope of common sense. I am 
referring to the continuing resolution which we just voice-voted, the 
20th continuing resolution since the new fiscal year began October 1, 
2000.
  Today is the 11th of December. For the last 72 days, we have been 
unable to negotiate and work out individual spending bills for a number 
of departments and agencies because of policy differences primarily 
over ergonomics rules and education funding. From time to time, we were 
led to believe that agreement had been reached on these issues only to 
be right back right here today, voting on yet another continuing 
resolution.
  I did support the continuing resolution we voted on today. However, 
Mr. Speaker, I do not plan to support any more continuing resolutions 
which are used to fund the Departments of Labor, Health and Human 
Services and Education through next year.
  Certainly there are policy differences. There are always policy 
differences. That is the very foundation of our democratic system. 
However, these highly partisan protracted delays have serious and far-
reaching consequences for millions of innocent victims. I am referring 
specifically to the millions of Americans who are dependent upon the 
National Institutes of Health to find new understanding and ultimate 
treatment of Alzheimer's disease, other brain illnesses, better 
treatment of spinal cord injuries and greater knowledge of the causes 
of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, HIV and AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, 
and mental illness. Additionally, the human genome project supported by 
NIH holds the prospect of far-reaching advances in gene therapy to 
treat many illnesses.
  Until this continuing resolution roller coaster started, the budget 
of the National Institutes of Health seemed about to experience its 
third consecutive annual increase of 15 percent following a bipartisan 
path to doubling the budget over 5 years. Under the scenario we are 
faced with today, despite strong support from both sides of the aisle 
and approval by a House-Senate conference committee, this increase 
appears to be under serious threat.
  Funding for the National Institutes of Health is included in the 
Labor, Health and Human Services conference report, H.R. 4577. Without 
immediate enactment of this bill, funding increases are in peril. This 
fiscal year 2001 funding bill must move forward. To delay or to roll 
NIH funding into another continuing resolution would be a loss of an 
additional $2.7 billion in medical research and a real setback and a 
loss of hope to the millions of Americans afflicted with serious 
diseases. Congress cannot, must not, let progress stall at year 3 on 
the 5-year plan to double NIH's budget.
  Fiscal year 2001 funding is vitally important to allow our Nation's 
scientists and clinicians to enhance the health of the American people 
by exploiting the tremendous opportunities offered by the current 
revolution in biomedical research.
  Last year, NIH was able to support 8,900 new research grants at 
universities across the Nation. Now, with a 15 percent increase, it 
anticipated supporting up to 9,500 in the current fiscal year. If the 
budget does not reflect the 15 percent increase and, instead, stays at 
the level of fiscal year 2000, only 5,000 new grants will be given out. 
A number of projects will be zero-funded. This could include 
initiatives in neuro-degenerative diseases, including Parkinson's, and 
clinical trials for new treatments for childhood cancer and diabetes.
  Not only would NIH lose its 15 percent increase, the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention would lose a proposed increase of $886 
million. That includes an $88 million increase for HIV prevention, $36 
million for childhood immunizations, and $85 million for infectious 
disease control.
  Another negative consequence of extending the current level funding 
in a continuing resolution is that the Center for Information 
Technology would be significantly restricted from providing necessary 
support of the NIH scientific and business communities. For example, 
the Center for Scientific Review would need to defer all purchases of 
computers and other equipment necessary to utilize the core data 
systems for the National Institutes of Health.
  If our Nation is to sustain the momentum and continue to translate 
scientific discovery into better health and an improved quality of life 
for all Americans, then we just have to continue our commitment to 
double the NIH budget by 2003. Volatility and dramatic fluctuations in 
funding can be as harmful to the research community as inadequate 
growth. We risk wasting the investment that has been made for the past 
2 years if scientists do not have those resources. So the bottom line 
is we cannot freeze the budget of the National Institutes of Health.

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