Nancy Kassebaum: “I am pleased to cosponsor the Health Research Act of 1994, being introduced today by Senator Hatfield and Senator…”

“I am pleased to cosponsor the Health Research Act of 1994, being introduced today by Senator Hatfield and Senator Harkin. This legislation is aimed at expanding research funding through the National Institutes of Health [NIH]. It would do this by establishing a biomedical research trust fund. This trust fund would augment, not replace, resources currently provided to NIH through the appropriations process. Americans of all ages benefit from the findings of biomedical research funded by the NIH. The foundation of this effort is the many committed scientists throughout this country. Through investigator- initiated efforts, these individuals have developed effective diagnostic and treatment methods for debilitating or deadly illnesses. Unfortunately, the NIH is currently able to fund only one out of five research proposals. The $5 billion biomedical research trust fund created by this legislation would help reverse this situation. The funding raised through both a health insurance premium surcharge and a tax checkoff would allow the NIH to support a greater proportion of the grant proposals it receives. Such an increase in funding would help secure the benefits of biomedical research for generations to come.”