[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 25, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H2931]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    INVESTING IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH

  (Mr. DeSaulnier of California was recognized to address the House for 
5 minutes.)
  Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of our Nation's 
investments in biomedical research through the National Institutes of 
Health and the National Cancer Institute.
  The research that is conducted through NIH and NCI improves health 
outcomes, creates jobs, and furthers our global leadership in 
biomedical research and innovation.
  I am proud to have been a consistent supporter of funding for these 
institutions, having visited both institutions in Bethesda and around 
this country.
  NIH is the largest public funding source of biomedical research 
worldwide, with a current budget of $47.7 billion. Similarly, NCI is 
the largest public funder of cancer research in the world, with a 
current budget of $7.22 billion.
  NCI was created by a Republican President, Richard Nixon, as his war 
on cancer, which has been phenomenally successful.
  NIH funding attracts top talent from across the country and, indeed, 
the globe to help make our biomedical research industry the best by far 
in the world, an accomplishment Americans should be incredibly proud 
of.
  As a survivor of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, stage IV, the work 
that goes on at the National Cancer Institute is of personal importance 
to me and approximately 20 million American cancer survivors. We are 
alive today because of innovations in medicine funded by taxpayers and 
the private sector in a wonderful public-private partnership.
  Research funded through NCI has undoubtedly helped improve health 
outcomes. A study published by the American Cancer Society notes that 
the cancer mortality rate has declined 33 percent since 1991. Those are 
all Americans who are living today, like myself.
  When I was diagnosed, my oncologist said: You are lucky. Ten years 
ago, with the same diagnosis, I would have had to say all we could do 
was tell you to enjoy whatever time you have left.
  Now, because of these investments, I am able to live a full life 
expectancy, like many of the other survivors.
  From developing the first chemotherapy drug to treat metastatic 
cancer in 1956 to promising new research on immunotherapy, NCI-funded 
research has developed numerous new drugs and therapies for cancer.
  While these investments and research are good for health outcomes, 
they are also tremendously good for our economy. In fiscal year 2023, 
NIH funding generated approximately $92.9 billion in economic activity. 
That is a great return on investment, Mr. Speaker.
  NIH awards over 80 percent of its annual budget in the form of 
research grants to 2,500 research institutions across the country, in 
red States and blue. These grants support the jobs of more than 300,000 
researchers at institutions in all 50 States and provide immeasurable 
benefits to our local communities, especially local community 
economies.
  I am proud that the area that I represent, the San Francisco Bay Area 
in northern California, is home to 2 of the top 10 recipients of NIH 
grants, the University of California San Francisco and Stanford 
University. UCSF is the top public university recipient of NIH grants, 
making the region a leader in biomedical research, which benefits the 
economy and individuals like myself.
  The economic benefits are further compounded by private investment. 
In 2020, private industry as a whole invested $161.8 billion in 
biomedical research in the U.S. This was allowed because of the basic 
research done at NIH and NCI.
  Despite these numerous benefits, the current administration and many 
of my Republican colleagues are proposing to cut the NIH's budget by 40 
percent and NCI's budget by 37 percent. That would be a grave mistake 
for individual Americans who will die and their families and for our 
economy.
  While some claim that private industry alone can replace Federal 
investment in biomedical research, this just isn't the case. It has 
been proven over decades. The private sector needs this public-sector 
investment for them to do many of the drugs and treatments that we 
currently have. This has been the case for decades. While some claim 
that this is easily done, there is no way.
  Mr. Speaker, the Chinese are investing billions of dollars to catch 
up to us in this field. We should not lose American leadership.

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