The Ad Hoc Group for
Medical Research

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November 13, 2000

The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Speaker:

On behalf of the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research Funding, I urge you to complete the work of the 106th Congress and preserve the pre-election agreement providing increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research Funding is a coalition of over 200 patient and voluntary health groups, medical and scientific societies, academic and research organizations and industry dedicated to increased funding for the NIH. Attached is a list of the groups that endorsed the Ad Hoc Group's FY 2001 proposal calling for a $2.7 billion (15 percent) increase for the NIH.

At a time of unsurpassed scientific opportunity, the Ad Hoc Group is concerned that additional delays and uncertainties about funding levels for biomedical and behavioral research could slow the progress of critical research into new causes and treatments of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, mental illness and substance abuse disorders, Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's. For the national investment in the NIH to prove fruitful, a steady, dependable funding stream is required to maintain success rates, invest in new and innovative research areas, and expand existing areas of scientific promise. For these reasons, the Ad Hoc Group believes it is essential that the FY 2001 funding process be completed as soon as possible, and that funding levels for the NIH be preserved at the levels reported in the pre-election agreement.

The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research Funding understands and appreciates the many efforts put forth by Congress and the administration to ensure adequate funding for the NIH. Doubling the NIH budget by FY 2003 is a bipartisan goal supported overwhelmingly by the American public. When the House of Representatives and Senate reconvene to complete the business of the 106th Congress, I urge you to make passage of the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill the first order of business.

Sincerely,

Richard M. Knapp, Ph.D.