January 29, 2009
Thank you to all who responded to our call to action this week by sending a letter to your member of Congress in support of biomedical research funding in the economic recovery package. The House passed the package on January 28th by a vote of 244-188. The legislation includes $1.5 billion for grants, $500 million for intramural construction, and $1.5 billion for extramural facilities renovation for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The National Science Foundation (NSF) will also receive $3 billion and Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science will receive $1.9 billion.
The Senate Appropriations Committee marked-up its portion of the Senate recovery package on January 27th and included $3.5 billion for the NIH to be used for grants, capital equipment, and intramural facilities. It likely that Senator Specter (R-PA) will offer an amendment during floor debate to add $6.5 billion for NIH, which would bring the total to $10 billion. NSF will receive $1.4 billion and DOE will receive $430 million if the package is passed in its current form. The Senate could consider the legislation early next week, and it is vital that your Senators hear from you today about the immediate impact that research funding has on the health of the nation’s people and the economy.
A sample letter has been created for you; you may customize it if you wish. Please enter your contact information through the link below and your message will automatically be sent to your Senators. Let them know of the need to increase research funding levels in order to stimulate the economy.
http://capwiz.com/endocrine/home/
As a scientist and constituent, I urge you to support science funding in the economic recovery legislation being considered by Congress. Investment in the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and other science agencies will immediately create new jobs and prevent job losses for researchers, technicians, and thousands of others who provide equipment, supplies, and services to laboratories.
While you may know NIH as the funder of lifesaving medical research, it is also an agency which generates and supports 350,000 jobs nationwide. In FY 2007, every $1 million that the public invested in NIH generated $2.21 million in new business activity across the nation. Moreover, Congress recognized the important role NSF plays in maintaining U.S. economic competitiveness through authorization of the America COMPETES Act. Within weeks, funding for high-quality, peer reviewed projects could be allocated nationwide, stimulating local economies through salaries and purchase of equipment, laboratory supplies, and vendor services.
Scientific research also requires infrastructure in the form of laboratories and equipment to support the scientific breakthroughs and progress that lead to medical advances. In 2005, a study found that 20% of the facilities in the biological and medical sciences needed renovation and replacement. Long overdue upgrades to existing research facilities are a vital investment in our nation’s infrastructure and will increase productivity for years to come.
Please support the economic recovery legislation and the funds for biomedical research. NIH, NSF, and other federal research agencies should be an integral part of any economic stimulus plan, as a critical first step towards a sustainable, national commitment to fund the science and technology that drives our long-term economic progress.
