Aug 11, 2016 - Dear Speaker Ryan and Leaders McConnell, Pelosi, and Reid: On behalf ... illnesses that rob Americans of
August 11, 2016
The Honorable Paul Ryan Speaker of the House U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader U.S. Senate Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Democratic Leader U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Harry Reid Democratic Leader U.S. Senate Washington, DC 20510
Dear Speaker Ryan and Leaders McConnell, Pelosi, and Reid: On behalf of Research!America, the nation’s largest nonprofit alliance working to accelerate medical progress and strengthen our nation’s commitment to research and public health, we are writing to urge you to complete work on fiscal year 2017 (FY17) appropriations before the end of the 114th Congress. Some members of Congress and outside groups have suggested defaulting to a longterm continuing resolution (CR) that extends FY16 funding levels until March of 2017. We hope you will choose a different path, setting your sights on passing an appropriations package this year that advances the best interests of the American people and the strategic interests of the United States. No priority more concretely meets those objectives than rebuilding the inflation-eroded budget of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Because of your vision and commitment, the FY16 omnibus appropriations bill increased the NIH budget by 6 percent or $2 billion. If our nation builds on that pivotal accomplishment, we can defeat illnesses that rob Americans of health, hope and time. House and Senate Appropriators embraced this challenge, passing bills containing significant increases in FY17 for NIH. A long-term CR would undercut that funding growth, choking off unprecedented progress against deadly and debilitating health threats. We are confident that under your leadership, the 114th Congress can complete the FY17 appropriations process this year without resorting to a long-term CR. Thank you and your respective staff members for your commitment and diligence. Sincerely,
