ASM Thanks Senate Subcommittee for NIH $2 Billion Budget Increase
| The Honorable Roy Blunt Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies United States Senate 260 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510-2508 |
The Honorable Patty Murray Ranking Member, Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies United States Senate 154 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510-4704 |
Dear Senators Blunt and Murray:
The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) commends the Senate Appropriations Committee for approving the Labor-HHS Subcommittee’s $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the Fiscal Year 2017 appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services. The $2 billion increase for the NIH will help sustain scientific discovery and progress in biomedical research.
The ASM appreciates the bipartisan efforts in approving this increase amidst the federal budget constraints. The ASM recognizes your leadership and the high priority the Committee has shown for the contributions made by NIH research to the nation’s health and well being. The ASM also thanks the Committee for including increases for NIH programs against antibiotic resistant pathogens.
An adequate NIH budget is crucial in FY 2017 and essential during every fiscal cycle in coming years. The Committee’s FY 2017 funding approval will help strengthen U.S. leadership in biomedical discovery and the biotechnology based economy. The ASM looks forward to working with the Committee, the Congress and the Administration in any capacity that will further advance biomedical research.
Sincerely,
Lynn W. Enquist, Ph.D.
President, American Society for Microbiology
Stefano Bertuzzi, Ph.D., M.P.H.
CEO, American Society for Microbiology
Ronald M. Atlas, Ph.D.
Chair, ASM Public and Scientific Affairs Board
