IV
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. RES. 363
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal invest-
ment in biomedical research should be increased by $2,000,000,000 in
fiscal year 1999.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 12, 1998
Mr. GEKAS (for himself and Mr. PORTER) submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on Commerce
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that
the Federal investment in biomedical research should
be increased by $2,000,000,000 in fiscal year 1999.
Whereas past investments in biomedical research have re-
sulted in better health, an improved quality of life for all
Americans and a reduction in national health care ex-
penditures;
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 larg-
est contributor 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 de-
vices currently in use is based in biomedical research sup-
ported by the National Institutes of Health;
Whereas women have traditionally been underrepresented in
medical research protocols, yet are severely affected by
diseases including breast cancer, which will kill over
44,000 women this year; ovarian cancer which will claim
another 14,800 lives; and, osteoporosis and cardio-
vascular disorders;
Whereas research sponsored by the National Institutes of
Health is responsible for the identification of genetic
mutations relating to nearly 100 diseases, including Alz-
heimer’s disease, cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease,
osteoporosis, many forms of cancer, and immune defi-
ciency disorders;
Whereas many Americans still face serious and life-threaten-
ing 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 Na-
tion’s health care system, and bankrupt the Medicare and
Medicaid programs;
Whereas 33 million Americans annually suffer from injuries
resulting from trauma;
Whereas 4 million Americans are currently infected with the
hepatitis C virus, an insidious liver condition that can
lead to inflammation, cirrhosis, and cancer as well as
liver failure;
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Whereas 200,000 Americans are now suffering from AIDS
and hundreds of thousands more with HIV infection;
Whereas cancer remains a comprehensive threat to any tissue
or organ of the body at any age, and remains a top cause
of morbidity and mortality;
Whereas the extent of psychiatric and neurological diseases
poses considerable challenges in understanding the work-
ings of the brain and nervous system;
Whereas recent advances in the treatment of HIV illustrate
the promise research holds for even more effective, acces-
sible, 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 underserved
members of our society;
Whereas approximately one out of every five American men
will develop prostate cancer and over 40,000 men will die
from prostate cancer each year;
Whereas diabetes, both insulin and non-insulin forms, afflicts
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, diag-
nostic and analytical reagents;
Whereas research sponsored by the National Institutes of
Health will map and sequence the entire human genome
by 2005, leading to a new era of molecular medicine that
will provide unprecedented opportunities for the preven-
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tion, diagnoses, treatment, and cure of diseases that cur-
rently plague society;
Whereas the fundamental way science is conducted is chang-
ing at a revolutionary pace, demanding a far greater in-
vestment in emerging new technologies, research training
programs, and in developing new skills among scientific
investigators;
Whereas this proposal is the first step toward doubling the
National Institutes of Health funding in five years;
Whereas funds necessary to meet this proposal may come
from budget surpluses, budget offsets, and the regular
appropriations process;
Whereas the American economy’s outstanding performance
may result in budget surpluses, which the American peo-
ple support using to increase biomedical research funded
by the National Institutes of Health; and
Whereas polling data shows that Americans support a dou-
bling of the Federal investment in biomedical research:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This resolution may be cited as the ‘‘Biomedical Revi-
talization Resolution of 1998’’.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
It is the sense of the House of Representatives that
funding for the National Institutes of Health should be
increased by $2,000,000,000 in fiscal year 1999 and that
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the budget resolution appropriately reflect sufficient funds
to achieve this objective.
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