On the recordJune 30, 1999
The more we are able to prevent disease or cure the existing diseases, the more beneficial will be our Treasury as well as the lives of our citizens. This chart that we have here shows heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's, mental disorder, arthritis, depression, stroke, osteoporosis, etc. Altogether, these cost us $500 billion a year as a society. That is what it costs us. Now, insofar as research can settle in and provide a cure for one or all of these, billions of dollars every year can be saved, not to mention the lives that will be happier and safer and more fully destined for fulfillment than under the present conditions. So we are not only spending money when we invest in the National Institutes of Health, we are saving money.
Source
govinfo.gov
