NIH Appropriations Update: House Committee Provides Slight Increase for NIH
On Wednesday, July 14, the House Appropriations Committee approved fiscal year (FY) 2005 appropriations legislation for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies. The bill will provide NIH with $28.44 billion, an increase of $782 million or 2.8 percent.
Within NIH, the House Appropriations Committee’s FY 2005 spending bill includes: $4.87 billion for the National Cancer Institute, a $131 million or 2.76 percent increase; $2.96 billion for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, an $85.2 million or 2.96 percent boost; $1.72 billion for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a $54.3 million or 3.25 percent increase; and $1.05 billion for the National Institute on Aging, a $30.9 million or 2.92 percent boost.
Included with the funding levels from the House Appropriations Committee is Congressional Report language on the journal “open access” issue. ASH is working to address the “open access” language in the House and Senate and will keep members informed about our progress and forthcoming opportunities to contact your legislators on the issue.
Outlook
The House bill is expected to go to the House floor for a vote in early September, when Congress reconvenes after the August recess. No action on FY 2005 NIH appropriations is imminent in the Senate. The Senate will try to begin debate on the FY 2005 spending measures after the August recess.
ASH will keep members informed about upcoming opportunities to contact legislators about FY 2005 NIH funding. If you have questions, or need more information, please contact Jeff Coughlin, ASH Government Affairs Manager, at (202) 776-0544 or jcoughlin@hematology.org.
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