Debbie Dingell: “I continue to have major doubts about the wisdom of H.R. 1795, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and…”

“I continue to have major doubts about the wisdom of H.R. 1795, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Establishment Act. Because this rushed process has not resolved my doubts, I oppose this legislation. At the September 14 Commerce Committee markup on this bill, I expressed my long-standing concern about the administrative burdens and duplication that come with authorizing new Institutes at the National Institutes of Health. I understand that the intent of this bill is to bring together programs in biomedical imaging and bioengineering that support clinical research in other disciplines, thereby fostering basic research in the development of improved diagnostic technologies. This is a laudable goal, yet all Institutes come with Directors who appoint administrative personnel, and new Institutes create opportunities for needless duplication of existing work. NIH's budget is finite, and we must be careful to use it wisely. Do we need to spend more money on administrative bureaucracy or risk duplication of existing work to achieve the goals of this legislation? I think not, and neither does Secretary Shalala.”