Senator Harkin Advocates For $150 Million Increase In NIH Funding

Senate to take up Supplemental Funding Bill next week that includes vital cancer research funds

June 20, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Continuing his intensive work to provide funds for life-saving biomedical research, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds health and education initiatives, today praised the House of Representatives for approving $150 million in additional funds for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and pledged to include and approve the funds on the Senate side.

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The House passed the Supplemental Funding Bill late last night that includes the NIH funding; the Senate intends to consider the legislation next week.

“The National Institutes of Health is the premier biomedical research agency in the world,” said Senator Harkin. “It is vital for the Congress to support our scientists as they search for treatments and cures that could provide hope to millions of Americans.”

Daniel E. Smith, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), said of Senator Harkin’s efforts, “The cancer community applauds Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) for leading the effort to add funding for NIH in the Senate version of the supplemental appropriations bill, for his tenacity and his unwavering commitment to making cancer a higher national priority.”

Harkin has been a long-time supporter of the NIH, the federal agency responsible for medical research. As Chairman and formerly ranking member of the subcommittee that funds health and education, Harkin led the effort to double NIH funding over five years.

Source: Senator Tom Harkin