Unhealthy Cuts
May 4, 2007
Dear Editor:
The May 4 editorial titled, "Unhealthy Cuts," strikes at a looming crisis-the prospect that the Administration's proposed budget cuts for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) could cripple broad-based medical research initiatives, compromise promising studies and weaken our global leadership in health research. What is questionable is the editorial's assertion that "a simple loss of public interest" is behind a loss of commitment in Washington to funding for NIH.
Americans recognize the importance of NIH and other agencies and how their funding fuels our medical and health research pipeline. An August 2006 poll commissioned by Research! America says that 55% of Americans would like to see funding increased for the NIH; 41% are happy with current (2006) funding.
People across the United States know that our future health and economic prosperity hinge upon continued increases in funding to the NIH. It is important for their voices to be heard and for Congress to renew and sustain their past commitment to this critical mission. Americans aren't too busy to worry about this, but maybe Congress and the Administration are.