[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 175 (Wednesday, December 11, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1834-E1835]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH) FUNDING AND THE IMPACT OF 
                             SEQUESTRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOYCE BEATTY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 11, 2013

  Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Congresswoman Jackie 
Speier, for leading this important bi-partisan discussion on the 
benefits of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the dire impact 
that sequestration is having on NIH, its grantees, and our nation.
  NIH makes important discoveries that improve health and save lives.
  Thanks in large part to NIH-funded medical research, Americans today 
are living longer and healthier lives.
  Life expectancy in the United States has increased and disability in 
people over age 65 has dramatically decreased in the past 3 decades 
because of the important research taking place at NIH.
  NIH is also a job creator--it has created hundreds of thousands of 
high-quality jobs by funding scientists at universities and research 
institutions in every state across America and in countries around the 
globe.
  These investments have led directly to better outcomes for cancer 
patients and increased the effectiveness of the treatments we have for 
HIV, influenza, diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer's, and hundreds of other 
diseases and disorders that affect millions of Americans.
  More than 80% of NIH's budget goes to more than 300,000 research 
personnel at over 2,500 universities and research institutions.
  In fiscal year 2013, Ohio received $777 million in NIH funding.
  And my district, the third congressional district of Ohio, received 
581 NIH grants, worth over $248 million.
  NIH has historically funded the largest amount of federally funded 
research within my district at The Ohio State University.
  In 2012, NIH funded approximately 25% of the overall research 
expenditures at The Ohio State University.
  NIH grants went utilized on collaborations between The Ohio State 
University and Nationwide Children's Hospital to accelerate basic 
scientific discoveries into life-saving medical advances.
  In particular, the discovery of microRNAs, small cellular molecules 
involved with biological regulation, is now known to play a pivotal 
role in the growth and spread of prostate, ovarian, colon and lung 
cancers, as well as other diseases.
  NIH grants were also provided to The Ohio State University to 
establish a research center devoted to the study of tobacco use 
patterns, research that will help the Food and Drug Administration put 
science behind its new role in regulating tobacco.
  NIH funds investigators in my district, at Nationwide Children's 
Hospital, to study gene therapy as a treatment for spinal muscular 
atrophy, the most common genetic defect that results in infant 
mortality.

[[Page E1835]]

  At Nationwide Children's Hospital, NIH funding makes possible 
important clinical trials of viral therapy for solid cancer tumors in 
children, testing of new agents against childhood tumors, research to 
prevent and treat infant prematurity, and the furthering of 
understanding of the mechanisms of autism prevention.
  In fact, the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital is 
ranked 6th for NIH funding among free-standing children's hospitals in 
the United States.
  Hyper Tech Research, Bertec Corporation, Battelle, and BioOhio--all 
of these outstanding companies in the third congressional district of 
Ohio benefit from NIH research funding for biotechnology, drug 
development, medical devices, and health care.
  But, just as NIH dollars that flow to Ohio help grow the state's 
economy, a reduction in those dollars have hurt us.
  On March 1, 2013 sequestration required NIH to cut 5 percent--$1.55 
billion--of its fiscal year 2013 budget.
  These drastic cuts affected all NIH programs, projects, and 
activities--every single area of medical research was negatively 
affected.
  NIH now has approximately 700 fewer competitive research grants.
  They now have approximately 750 fewer new patients in their clinical 
center.
  The development of more effective cancer drugs is being delayed.
  Research on a universal flu vaccine is being delayed.
  Research on prevention of debilitating chronic conditions is being 
delayed.
  These delays are proof that sequestration has significantly 
undermined medical progress across all disciplines of research on the 
full spectrum of diseases and conditions.
  We cannot continue to compromise our nation's future economic growth 
and security by blindly cutting federal investment in areas that are 
critical to our nation's ability to innovate and compete in the global 
economy.
  As much as half of U.S. economic growth since World War Ills a result 
of technological innovation, much of which resulted directly from 
federally-funded scientific research.
  The private sector, which requires rapid returns in investment, 
relies on the federal government to fund basic scientific research.
  Sustained support for federal research, education, and student aid 
programs pay dividends by building human, scientific and technological 
capital for our nation.
  We cannot afford to let the United States fall behind other 
countries, such as China, in such important areas as scientific 
research and innovation.
  Our government must show a clear commitment to sustained funding of 
scientific research across the disciplines so that our nation can 
compete globally and we can build a better America for future 
generations.
  Sequestration is not the answer to our nation's fiscal problems.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose further cuts to nondefense 
discretionary programs.
  The point of fiscal responsibility is to invest in these critical 
federal programs in order to provide a better life for all Americans, 
especially our children who are our future researchers and inventors.
  Sustained investments in NIH are essential so that our nation can 
train the next generation to make tomorrow's health discoveries and to 
continue America's scientific leadership.
  The work done by NIH helps grow our economy, improve our health, and 
has made our nation stronger and more secure.
  We should not weaken them.

                          ____________________