Katie Porter: “the total discretionary funding for the Departments of Health and Human Services declines by $1 billion from $29.2…”

“the total discretionary funding for the Departments of Health and Human Services declines by $1 billion from $29.2 billion to $28.2 billion, or 3.5 percent. Mandatory spending, on the other hand, increases from $152 billion to $170 billion. One of the committee's top priorities is funding for biomedical research. The bill provides $11.9 billion for the National Institutes of Health, which is an increase of $642 million, or 5.7 percent. The committee believes strongly we should permit scientists to determine the funding priorities at NIH rather than Members of Congress. As a result, the committee has not earmarked funds for specific diseases or directed NIH to fund particular research mechanisms. These decisions should be, and are under the bill, left to scientists. Another high priority in the health and human services section of the bill is support of preventive health programs. Funding is maintained for the Centers for Disease Control and prevention programs supporting increases for a broad range of prevention programs and funding many others at last year's levels. Increases are provided for childhood immunization, breast and cervical cancer screening, sexually transmitted diseases, chronic and environmental disease, and infectious disease.”