Government Affairs Home > Labor-HHS Appropriations > NIH

Senator Harkin's "Dear Colleague" Letter Seeking Support for the "Twenty-First Century Research Laboratories Act"

United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510-1502

MODERNIZE OUR MEDICAL RESEARCH LABS

May 13, 1999

Dear Colleague, 

We are writing to urge you to join us as an original cosponsor of the "Twenty-First Century Research Laboratories Act of 1999". This bill addresses a major shortfall in our nation's medical research enterprise.

In order to realize major medical breakthroughs in Alzheimer's, diabetes, Parkinson's, cancer and other major illnesses, our nation's top researchers must have top quality, state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment. Unfortunately, the status of our research infrastructure is woefully inadequate.

A recent study by the National Science Foundation (NSF) finds that academic institutions have deferred, due to lack of funds, nearly $11.4 billion in repair, renovation, and construction projects. Almost one quarter (23%) of all research space requires either major renovation or replacement and 70% of medical schools report having inadequate space in which to perform biomedical research.

A separate study by NSF documents the laboratory equipment needs of researchers and found that 67 percent of research institutions reported an increased need for laboratory instruments. At the same time, the report found that spending for such instruments at colleges and universities actually declined in the early 1990s.

Several other prominent organizations have documented the need for increased funding for research infrastructure. A March 1998 report by the Association of American Medical Colleges stated that "The government should reestablish and fund a NIH construction authority..." A June 1998 report by the Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology stated that "Laboratories must be built and equipped for the science of the 21st Century... Infrastructure investments should include renovation of existing space as well as new construction, where appropriate."

As we work-to-double funding for medical research over the next five years, the already serious shortfall in the modernization of our nation's aging research facilities and labs will continue to worsen unless we take specific action. Future increases in NIH must be matched with increased funding for repair, renovation and construction of research facilities, as well as the purchase of modem laboratory equipment.

Our bill expands federal funding for facilities construction and state-of-the-art laboratory equipment through the NIH by increasing the authorization for this account within the National Center for Research Resources to $250 million in FY 2000 and $500 million in FY 2001. In addition, the bill authorizes a "Shared Instrumentation Grant Program" at NIH, to be administered by the Center. The program will provide grants for the purchase of shared-use, state-of-the-art laboratory equipment costing over $100,000. All grants awarded under these two programs will be peer-reviewed, as is the practice with all NIH grants and projects.

We are entering a time of great promise in the field of biomedical research. We are on the verge of major breakthroughs which could end the ravages of cancer, heart disease, Parkinson's and the scores of illnesses and conditions which take the lives and health of millions of Americans. But to realize these breakthroughs, we must devote the necessary resources to our nation's research enterprise.

The Association of American Universities, the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology have all expressed their support for this legislation. If you wish to join us in cosponsoring the "21st Century Research Laboratories Act," please contact Sabrina Corlette with Senator Harkin at 224-3254. Thank you.

Sincerely yours,