Henry Waxman: “the NIH Reform Act of 2006 reauthorizes the authority for one of the preeminent health agencies of the Federal…”

“the NIH Reform Act of 2006 reauthorizes the authority for one of the preeminent health agencies of the Federal government, recognized for its fine work here and around the world. This is not an agency that is broken or in need of fundamental reform. The single most important thing we could do to improve its function is to provide it with sufficient appropriations to expand its research activities and fund more grants. Instead, over the recent years of this Congress, we have consistently provided appropriations which are not sufficient to cover inflationary increases in research costs, let alone continue expansion of the work of this agency. In 2006, in fact, the budget was cut in actual dollar terms--the first time this has occurred in 36 years. While I recognize Chairman Barton is signaling with this legislation his belief that the growth in appropriations needs to be higher, it is clear that what most needs to be done is to change the fiscal policies of this Administration and Congress, and the budgets they establish, so that indeed more funds can be directed to this valuable institution.”