Contact: Lynn Marquis, lmarquis@coalitionforlifesciences.org
The Coalition for the Life Sciences (CLS) applauds congressional leadership and the Administration for working together on a measure that increases discretionary funding limits for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 and suspends the debt limit for two years.
This bipartisan agreement to raise the caps allows Congress to return to a more stable annual appropriations process. We are pleased that this agreement increases discretionary spending—a critical component necessary to support key national priorities such as medical research conducted through the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The CLS is grateful for the historic support of sustained increases for the NIH. The NIH is the global leader in accelerating the development of life-changes cures, pioneering treatments, and innovative prevention strategies. To keep pace with scientific opportunity Congress must pass, and the President sign, this agreement. The unpredictable nature of the current funding situation is completely disruptive to the entire research enterprise. Rather than undermine our investment in this national treasure, the CLS recommends that Congress strengthen its commitment to medical research by passing this budget agreement that lifts the harmful budget and caps and, thus, creates a pathway to increase funding for the NIH by at least $2 billion.
Predictable increases are necessary for maintaining a vigorous portfolio of basic, translational, and clinical studies. Medical research is facing a moment of exceptional opportunities. Federally funded scientific research is enabling the understanding of the remarkable complexity of human biology and disease. There is no other way to have reached our current level of understanding, and no other way to extend that understanding further other than through public investment.
The CLS urges Congress to expeditiously pass this budget agreement so that Congress can advance our national investment in scientific research.
