Research!America calls for sustained investment in research
ALEXANDRIA, Va.—Feb. 7, 2005—Research to protect and improve health is being threatened by proposed cutbacks in domestic investment. In response to the release of the president's 2006 budget recommendations, Research!America, a not-for-profit education and advocacy alliance, is calling on Congress and the administration to ensure that America's investment in medical and health research is not weakened at the height of scientific opportunity.
"Times have shifted in our nation as we face tight budgets, the war in Iraq and the global war on terrorism. Our nation is faced with growing and competing demands at home and abroad. It is essential, however, that the current and future health of the American people be protected, and not crowded out of the public agenda," said The Honorable Paul G. Rogers, Research!America chair. "Strong and sustained investment in research is an imperative for our nation's health and is directly linked to the economic destiny of our nation."
President Bush's proposed 2006 budget flat-lines or cuts funding for key federal medical and health research agencies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would take a 7% cut in 2006 at $6.4 billion, while the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality would be flat-funded at $319 million.
In 2002, the National Science Foundation was authorized for a series of funding increases that would double the agency's budget. Although the NSF is slated to receive a 2.0% increase in the president's budget at $5.6 billion, the agency's budget would still be down $3 billion.
The National Institutes of Health is slated to receive $28.6 billion, which is only a 0.7% increase over 2005.
"Even in challenging economic times, Americans want medical and health research to be a priority in the minds of their elected representatives," said Mary Woolley, Research!America president. "If Congress chooses to accept this budget, only 2 cents of each federal dollar will be spent on health-related research. In comparison, the federal government will spend as much as 30 cents of each dollar on health care services. We should be accelerating investment in research that will ultimately reduce the burden of disease and disability, thus saving lives and saving money."
Results from a recent Research!America national survey show that 94% of Americans believe medical and health research is important to the nation's economy. That may be why 67% say they are willing to pay more taxes if they can be certain that the additional money will be spent on research.
Growing evidence from national and state surveys demonstrates a significant gap between public expectation about support for research funding and actual budget priorities:
- 58% of Americans think the commitment to health-related research should be higher as we look for ways to manage health care costs in the United States.
- 69% think it is very important for the United States to maintain its role as a global leader in medical and health research.
- 57% think that in terms of job creation and incomes, it is very important to invest in scientific research, and 79% strongly or somewhat agree that the federal government should support basic science research, even if it brings no immediate benefits.
- 71% feel too little is spent on prevention research, and 68% say we should spent at least twice as much of our nation's health care dollar on research to prevent disease and injury.
"America's global leadership in research advances preventions, treatments and cures that save and improve millions of lives every day," said The Honorable John Edward Porter, chair-elect of Research!America. "Reduced federal investment in research stifles advances and strains an enterprise that creates and supports hundreds of thousands of high-paying jobs."
Charlton Research Company conducted a national omnibus telephone survey among 800 adults. A demographically proportionate sample was obtained using Random Digit Dialing. The survey was fielded January 8-11, 2005 and has a theoretical sampling error of +/-3.5%.
Harris Interactive® conducted 15-minute polls by telephone with 804 adult residents (18 and older) in eight states. The survey data were weighted by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, Metropolitan Statistical Area, household size and the number of telephone lines in the household to reflect the demographic composition of each state's population using the March 2003 Current Population Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau. The surveys were fielded in 2004 and averaged for reporting. Each survey has a theoretical sampling error of +/-3.5%.
Research!America is a not-for-profit, membership-supported public education and advocacy alliance founded in 1989. Our nearly 500 member institutions, organizations and corporations represent the voices of more than 100 million Americans who want medical and health research-including research to prevent disease, disability and injury and to promote health-to be a much higher national priority. Research!America's public opinion surveys and advocacy programs and publications are designed to reach the public and decision makers with messages that support a strong and vibrant research enterprise.
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