FY 2005 Appropriations Update: NIH Expectations Grim

Fiscal year (FY) 2005 funding increases for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other health-related programs are looking smaller than expected after the release of spending allocations for the 13 Appropriations Subcommittees—referred to as the 302(b) Allocations. House Appropriations Committee Chairman CW “Bill” Young (R-FL) issued the spending limits for each of the 13 subcommittees June 2, 2004. The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education Appropriations Subcommittee—which has jurisdiction over NIH and other HHS agencies—received an increase of only 2.4 percent over FY 2004. The Senate Appropriations Committee has yet to release its FY 2005 302(b) Allocations.

Funding increases for NIH and other health-related programs will be more difficult with a spending allocation that only increases funding 2.4 percent over last year. As the appropriations process moves forward, ASH will continue its efforts on Capitol Hill to help secure increased funding for NIH in FY 2005.

ASH will keep members informed about upcoming opportunities to contact legislators about FY 2005 NIH funding and when the Senate releases its FY 2005 302(b) Allocations.

If you have questions, or need more information, please contact Jeff Coughlin, ASH Government Affairs Manager, at 202-776-0544 or jcoughlin@hematology.org.