A total of 56 senators signed a March 15 bipartisan letter calling on appropriators to “maintain a strong commitment to funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).”
The letter, organized by Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.), commends the funders “for recognizing the critical role … the NIH plays in spurring continued discoveries that save and improve lives,” adding, “We believe that it is essential to continue federal support for medical research because of the potential health benefits for all Americans and the importance of ensuring that our Nation remains at the forefront of medical research.”
The letter also notes, “It is through the innovative medical research supported by the NIH that we may have a chance to contain the increasing health care costs associated with the aging of the Baby Boomer generation.”