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107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 72

To express the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal

investment in biomedical research should be increased by $3,400,000,000

in fiscal year 2002.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 28, 2001

Mr. GEKAS (for himself, Mr. BENTSEN, and Mrs. MORELLA) submitted the

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and

Commerce

RESOLUTION

To express the sense of the House of Representatives that

the Federal investment in biomedical research should

be increased by $3,400,000,000 in fiscal year 2002.

Whereas past investments in biomedical research have resulted in better health, an improved quality of life for all

Americans and a reduction in national health care expenditures;

Whereas the Nation’s commitment to biomedical research has

expanded the base of scientific knowledge about health

and disease and revolutionized the practice of medicine;

Whereas the Federal Government represents the single largest contribution to biomedical research conducted in the

United States;
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Whereas biomedical research continues to play a vital role in

the growth of this Nation’s biotechnology, medical device,

and pharmaceutical industries;

Whereas the origin of many of the new drugs and medical devices currently in use is based in biomedical research supported by the National Institutes of Health;

Whereas women have traditionally been under represented in

medical research protocols, yet are severely affected by

diseases including breast cancer, claimed the lives of

40,800 women last year; ovarian cancer claimed another

14,000 lives; and osteoporosis and cardiovascular disorders;

Whereas research sponsored by the National Institutes of

Health is responsible for the identification of genetic

mutations relating to nearly 100 diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease,

osteoporosis, many forms of cancer, and immune deficiency disorders;

Whereas many Americans still face serious and life-threatening health problems; both acute and chronic;

Whereas neurodegenerative diseases of the elderly, such as

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease threaten to destroy

the lives of millions of Americans, overwhelm the Nation’s health care system, and bankrupt the Medicare and

Medicaid programs;

Whereas one in one hundred Americans is currently infected

with the hepatitis C virus, an insidious liver condition

that can lead to inflammation, cirrhosis, and cancer as

well as liver failure;

Whereas 320,000 Americans are now suffering from AIDS

and hundreds of thousands more with HIV infection;
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•HRES 72 IH

Whereas cancer remains a comprehensive threat to any tissue

or organ of the body at any age, and remains a leading

cause of morbidity and mortality;

Whereas the extent of psychiatric and neurological diseases

poses considerable challenges in understanding the workings of the brain and nervous system;

Whereas recent advances in the treatment of HIV illustrate

the promise research holds for even more effective, accessible, and affordable treatments for persons with HIV;

Whereas infants and children are the hope of our future, yet

they continue to be the most vulnerable and under served

members of our society;

Whereas prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer

deaths in men and last year 31,900 men died from prostate cancer;

Whereas juvenile diabetes and diabetes, both insulin and noninsulin forms, afflict 16 million Americans and places

them at risk for acute and chronic complications, including blindness, kidney failure, atherosclerosis and nerve

degeneration;

Whereas the emerging understanding of the principles of

biomimetrics have been applied to the development of

hard tissue such as bone and teeth as well as soft tissue,

and this field of study holds great promise for the design

of new classes of biomaterials, pharmaceuticals, diagnostic and analytical reagents;

Whereas research sponsored by the National Institutes of

Health will map and sequence the entire human genome

by 2003, leading to a new era of molecular medicine that

will provide unprecedented opportunities for the preven-
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•HRES 72 IH

tion, diagnoses, treatment, and cure of diseases that currently plague society;

Whereas the fundamental way science is conducted is changing at a revolutionary pace, demanding a far greater investment in emerging new technologies, research training

programs, and in developing new skills among scientific

investigators; and

Whereas most Americans show overwhelming support for an

increased Federal investment in biomedical research:

Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved,

2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

3 This resolution may be cited as the ‘‘Biomedical Revi4 talization Resolution of 2001’’.

5 SEC. 2. SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

6 It is the sense of the House of Representatives that

7 funding for the National Institutes of Health should be

8 increased by $3,400,000,000 in fiscal year 2002 and that

9 the budget resolution appropriately reflect sufficient funds

10 to achieve this objective.

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