[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 188 (Tuesday, November 14, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  OPPOSING AMENDMENT 109 TO H.R. 5894

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 14, 2023

  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to Amendment 109 
which imposes a cap of 30 percent of the total grant on all facilities 
and administrative, or F&A, costs for research awards made by the 
National Institutes of Health.
  F&A costs help keep the lights on at research facilities across the 
country. These costs are essential reimbursements for operational 
expenses incurred by universities and other research institutions for 
conducting research on behalf of the government. This amendment would 
greatly affect the ability of research institutions to operate cutting-
edge laboratories and maintain utilities such as heating or hazardous 
waste disposal.
  This amendment would reduce critical scientific research that 
directly contributes to our ability to save lives and reducing 
suffering for the communities we serve. Most medical breakthroughs were 
federally supported and took place at medical schools, teaching 
hospitals, and other research institutions across the country. Without 
the federal government's reimbursement of F&A costs, institutions would 
be forced to scale back research that may help develop the next vaccine 
or cure for cancer, Alzheimer's, and other health threats, or the next 
technological innovation that will create new businesses or medical 
devices.
  As a result of these cuts, Americans will have to wait longer for 
cures and our country will cede scientific breakthroughs to foreign 
competitors such as China, which is heavily investing in this space. 
This would undermine our nation's economic competitiveness and erode 
the United States' longstanding commitment to medical research that has 
yielded countless benefits to society and our well-being.
  In summary, cutting essential F&A costs for scientific research would 
result in slower scientific progress, longer waits for cures, fewer 
jobs, and a threat to our nation's economic competitiveness. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in opposing this amendment.