Proposed 2010 Budget, Plus Recovery Funding, Would Boost Research Jobs Nationwide
WASHINGTON—Feb. 27, 2009—Research!America's President and CEO Mary Woolley responded to the funding for medical and health research in the budget outline for FY2010 released yesterday by the White House:
"Research!America is pleased with the investment in health research and basic science suggested in the president's initial 2010 budget outline. With this proposal from the administration and the substantial research investment in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed by Congress, we are seeing strong, swift action to put science back to work for our economy, our health and our global competitiveness.
"A clear commitment to research and science is absolutely critical if we want to improve our health care. Investing in research will not only teach us how to better prevent and cure disease but will simultaneously transform our economy. To remain competitive globally, we must remake our economy and generate new opportunities for young Americans in the growth areas of science and health.
"The president's address to a joint session of Congress this week coupled with his initial budget outline is extremely encouraging. His administration is looking to science for solutions to big challenges such as health care reform. Building on the $10 billion National Institutes of Health investment in the Recovery Act, we anticipate substantial increases for research funded through NIH in FY2010. The $7 billion proposed for the National Science Foundation will fund critical basic research that spurs discovery and innovation.
"We know from recent polls Research!America has commissioned that the public thinks we should be spending more on medical research and prevention. Americans expect research to provide hope for the future, to save lives and improve quality of life by finding cures for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening and debilitating conditions. We look forward to working with Congress and the new Administration to restore research to its rightful place as a top national priority."
Research!America is the nation's largest not-for-profit public education and advocacy alliance working to make research to improve health a higher national priority. Visit www.researchamerica.org.
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