April 13, 2006
Democrats Highlight Need for
Increased NIH Funding
During a
hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education, Democratic members of the committee stated that the
President’s and Republicans’ proposal for funding the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) for fiscal year (FY) 2007 is insufficient and announced they will
propose a $18 billion increase for public health programs over the next five
years. It is not certain how much of the $18 billion would be allocated to NIH.
The
President proposed $28.3 billion for NIH for FY 2007 — the same amount as last
year — which will result in 650 fewer grants, including reductions at 22 of the
27 institutes and centers at NIH. NIH Director Elias Zerhouni
testified at the hearing that since the NIH’s budget
was doubled from 1998 to 2004, more than 3,000 new technologies using NIH
research have been brought to market and advances in genomics and genetics have
led to developments in less invasive treatments.
The AGA will continue to monitor the budget and appropriations process and advocate for adequate funding for NIH and digestive disease research.