National Institutes of Health Federal Funding FY22

Support NIH Funding in FY 2022
Sending Office: Honorable Andre Carson
Sent By: Ryan.Shay@mail.house.gov
 Request for Signature(s)
Support the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in FY 2022
Deadline: COB Friday April 23rd 
To sign on, please fill out THIS FORM

Dear Colleague:
Please join us in sending our FY'22 appropriations programmatic request letter to the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations (LHHS) Subcommittee in support of funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), by COB April 23rd.

To join the letter, please use THIS FORM.
If you have any further questions, please contact:
Ryan Shay (ryan.shay@mail.house.gov) with Rep. André Carson
Kirsten Wing (kirsten.wing@mail.house.gov) with Rep. David McKinley
Kyle Hill (kyle.hill@mail.house.gov) with Rep. Suzan DelBene
Joseph Knowles (joseph.knowles@mai.house.gov) with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick
LETTER TEXT

April XX, 2021
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro
Chairwoman
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations
H-307, the Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Tom Cole
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations
1016 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairwoman DeLauro and Ranking Member Cole:

As Members of Congress who value the critical role the National Institutes of Health (NIH) plays in better health outcomes, job creation, education, and economic growth, we respectfully request that the program level for the agency in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022should be at least $46.1 billion, $3.2 billion above the final FY21 funding level, to reflect the rich research opportunities to improve the health of patients everywhere. The importance of NIH's work has become more clear than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As the research enterprise works to recover from pandemic related disruptions and renew efforts to address the unprecedented scientific opportunity across all disease areas, it is critical that the United States make forward-thinking investments that promote medical breakthroughs, prepare for future pandemics, and sustain our international leadership in biomedical research.

In the last few years, medical research has led to new therapies that are transforming patient care for diseases such as sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, and through the use of CAR-T cells, certain types of cancer. NIH-funded researchers, working in concert with the private sector, were also able to transform this existing infrastructure into novel diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines to combat COVID-19. Providing $46.1 billion for the NIH would build on the recent steady, sustained increases for the NIH since FY 2015 that have made such accomplishments possible. We are at the tip of the iceberg of new life-saving innovations. Imagine what we can accomplish with continued robust investments in medical research, from making strides to combat antimicrobial resistance, to harnessing the power of personalized medicine to treat disease, and more. The critical investments we make in biomedical research are our nation's best hope in finding cures, prevention measures, and treatments for diseases that affect millions of Americans. For these reasons, nearly 400 organizations representing patients, scientists, health professionals, educators, institutions, and industry support this funding recommendation.

The agency conducts research that is too expensive and risky for private industry to undertake alone. Noncommercial basic and clinical research funded by NIH, coupled with private sector innovation, has led to major achievements in our understanding of rare diseases and disorders, as well as historically prevalent diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease and Parkinson's. In addition to bettering the lives of millions, NIH funding supports over 300,000 non-federal scientists and technical personnel at 2,500 research universities and facilities nationwide. Their work drives the demand for medical supplies and research equipment. NIH fundingripples far beyond its headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, to benefit manufacturers and suppliers in every state and many U.S. territories. In light of the difficult budget decisions you face, we want to stress the importance of NIH not only as a research agency 
improving the health of all Americans, but also as a job creator, driver of economic growth, and a vital tool in curbing our nation's soaring healthcare costs.

We appreciate your consideration of our request to provide at least $46.1 billion in funding for NIH in FY 2022.

Sincerely,
André Carson
Member of Congress

David B. McKinley P.E.
Member of Congress

Suzan DelBene
Member of Congress

Brian Fitzpatrick
Member of Congres