As a percentage of the total federal budget, the government currently spends two-thirds less on research and development than it did in 1965; when factoring in inflation, NIH’s purchasing power has declined by 22 percent over the past decade 

To help reverse this trend and fuel the next generation of biomedical breakthroughs, the America Cures Act would authorize an additional investment of 5 percent per year at four key federal research agencies

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar has cosponsored legislation to boost federal investment in cutting-edge biomedical research. As a percentage of the total federal budget, the government currently spends two-thirds less on research and development than it did in 1965. When factoring in inflation, the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) purchasing power has declined by 22 percent over the past decade. To help reverse this trend and fuel the next generation of biomedical breakthroughs, the America Cures Act would authorize an additional investment of 5 percent per year at the NIH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Defense Health Program (DHP), and the Veterans Medical & Prosthetics Research Program. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the legislation.

“To keep our country at the cutting edge of medical innovation, we need to invest in research that will help unleash the next generation of scientific breakthroughs,” Klobuchar said. “We can’t afford to sit back and watch our global competitors pour funding into research and development while our investments flatline. This bill will restore our commitment to vital medical research at places like the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota in order to help ensure America continues to lead the world in innovation and discovery.”

The American Cures Act would set a steady growth rate in federal appropriations for biomedical research conducted at NIH, CDC, DHP, and the Veterans Medical & Prosthetics Research Program. Under this legislation, funding for each agency and program would increase annually at a rate of GDP-indexed inflation plus 5 percent. This steady, long-term investment would allow these vital research agencies to plan and manage strategic growth while maximizing efficiencies. The bill would also create a budget cap adjustment through the remaining years of the Budget Control Act so that additional appropriations do not trigger reductions in other discretionary funding.

Klobuchar has been a leader in efforts to provide strong funding for medical and scientific research. She has consistently pushed her colleagues to support NIH funding in budget and appropriations negotiations, and spoken out on the Senate floor about the damage of sequestration on the NIH.

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