WASHINGTON—December 16, 2009—Research!America responded to medical and health research funding levels in the final FY 2010 appropriations bill. Approved Sunday by the Senate, the bill now goes to President Obama for his signature.
The National Institutes of Health received $31.0 billion, a 2.3% increase over FY 2009; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received $ 6.7 billion, a 1.9% increase; the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality received $397 million, a 6.7% increase; and the National Science Foundation received $6.9 billion, a 6.7% increase.
Research!America's chair, former Congressman John Edward Porter, said, " I know our leaders—Rep. David Obey (D-WI), House Appropriations Committee Chair, and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Senate Subcommittee Chair—did their best."
He continued, "These appropriations figures will drive Research!America to redouble our efforts to convince the Administration and Congress that not only do investments in science and medical research save lives but they also are essential to growing our economy and creating the strong economic future we want for our children and grandchildren. They are the only way to retain our global leadership in science."
Research!America's President and CEO Mary Woolley said, "For FY 2011, preserving the capacity of health research agencies will be critical to creating knowledge-driven jobs and lowering health care costs. We know from poll data that the public strongly supports stronger investment in research."
In an opinion poll commissioned for Research!America's Your Congress-Your Health initiative, 73% of Americans said that, considering all aspects of health reform, it is a priority to accelerate our investment in research to improve health, and 56% said we are not spending enough on research to prevent, cure and treat disease and disability.
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. Founded in 1989, Research!America is supported by 500 member organizations that represent the voices of 125 million Americans. Visit www.researchamerica.org or www.yourcongressyourhealth.org for more information.