Statement by Research! America President Mary Woolley
Research!America applauds President Bush's State of the Union pledge to double the federal commitment to basic research in the physical sciences, increase our commitment to math and science education, and make the R&D tax credit permanent. Increasing the nation's commitment to physical science is long overdue, leaving the U.S. with only a slim international leadership edge amid fierce international competition for the best young scientists. Research!America opinion polls have shown that eight in 10 Americans (79%) strongly support basic science research that advances the frontiers of knowledge.
The President indicated he will make health a priority for
2006. It is vital that we put medical research to work to help achieve that,
since we cannot make health a priority without making medical research a
priority.
In December, Congress cut federal funding for medical
research for the first time in 30 years-impeding not only the discovery of new
treatments but also stalling progress in prevention, early diagnosis and other
building blocks of a healthy workforce, able to compete effectively in a
challenging global economy. Failing to invest more now in medical research places
existing progress at risk and derails the promise of so many discoveries that
offer hope.
American families do not want to put progress on disease and disability on hold while other priorities are addressed. In a January Research!America poll, 94% of Americans said accelerating medical research is an important national priority-as important as homeland security (92%) and more important than cutting taxes (79%). In the same poll, six in 10 said greater funding for medical and health research is essential to the country's future health and economic prosperity.
The President called for actions to help meet the challenges of HIV/AIDS here and overseas. While these are steps in the right direction, much more is needed on many public health fronts, not the least of which is putting an end to the obesity epidemic. As America struggles to keep rising health costs in check, a greater emphasis on research to find new ways to prevent disease will reduce costs to our health care system and to Americans as health care consumers.
Last, but very concerning, is the President's call to Congress to ban "human cloning in all its forms." Research!America polls show that six in 10 Americans (58%) support the view-widely held among medical researchers-that embryonic stem cell research, or 'therapeutic cloning,' has the potential to yield important new treatments and cures for some of the most debilitating and deadly diseases and should be allowed to go forward.
Research!America is the nation's largest not-for-profit public education and advocacy alliance working to make medical and health research-including research to prevent disease, disability and injury and to promote health-a much higher national priority.
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