Strong, sustained investment in research is necessary to ensure the health of Americans and the nation's economic prosperity. Both public and private funding play essential roles in ensuring that research today becomes the treatment or cure of tomorrow.
Research!America has been tracking the total U.S. investment in health research and trends show that it has been stagnant for the past few years. The recent reinvestment in science has stimulated research and the economy, but advocates must continue to speak out. Otherwise, we may find ourselves in 2011 with funding levels similar to those in 2008.
Update on Federal Funding for Research
FY 2011
Congress is working on research funding for FY 2011. In the Senate, the full Appropriations Committee has approved research funding levels in FY 2011, while the Subcommittees have completed their work in the House of Representatives.
In the current House and Senate bills, the National Institutes of Health budget would increase 3.2% percent to $32 billion in FY 2011 as recommended by President Obama. Although President Obama proposed $611 million for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a 53.9% increase, the Senate approved $397 million and the House approved $411 million for AHRQ. The House supported President Obama's proposal to keep the National Science Foundation on a budget doubling track, by approving $7.42 billion for the agency, an 8.0% increase, but the Senate came in slightly lower at $7.35 billion. For the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the House approved $6.8 billion and the Senate approved $6.9 billion; both higher than the President's recommendation of $6.6 billion.
This chart presents the President's proposed funding levels with Research!America's recommendations.
Urge your members of Congress to invest in NIH, CDC, AHRQ and NSF in FY 2011.
See details of FY 2010 Appropriations.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
President Obama and the 111th Congress approved substantial increases for NIH, AHRQ, NSF and prevention and wellness in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The funding in the recovery package is as follows:
- NIH - $10 billion, including $7.4 billion for distribution to the institutes and centers, $1.3 billion for extramural construction and equipment, $800 million for the Office of the Director for trans-NIH initiatives, and $500 million for improvements to the NIH campus. See how NIH ARRA funding is benefitting communities across the U.S.
- AHRQ - $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research
- NSF - $3 billion, including $2.5 billion for research, $400 million for construction and equipment, and $100 million for education and human resources -- Read a statement from NSF Director Arden B. Bement Jr., PhD
- Prevention and wellness fund - $1 billion, of which some portion is allocated to CDC
Your Representative and Senators will want to know the impact of federal research funding in your state. Find out how much funding your state receives from the NIH, CDC, AHRQ and NSF using our interactive map.
Making Your Case
Use our advocacy resources to urge your Representative and Senators to make a strong, sustained investment in research to improve health.