December 19, 2011
On Saturday, the Senate approved the fiscal year 2012 omnibus appropriations bill, which contained a $299 million increase in NIH funding.
Marc Casper, United for Medical Research spokesperson and the president & chief executive officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific, released the following statement in reaction to the bill’s passage:
“On behalf of the millions of patients, scientific researchers and industry leaders in the life sciences sector, we applaud the House and Senate’s passage of a $299 million increase in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget as part of the omnibus budget measure. By prioritizing our investment in the NIH, Congress is showcasing its commitment to our country’s health and economic well-being.
“NIH funding fuels the scientific discoveries that yield new treatments and cures, and leads to better quality of life for millions of patients and their families. The economic power of biomedical research is irrefutable as well, providing nearly a half million jobs nationwide and adding more than $69 billion in new economic activity in 2010 alone, according to a recent UMR report.
“Through a sustained strong investment in the life sciences, the U.S. will continue to significantly advance health care domestically and also maintain its global leadership by spearheading new fields of medical innovation.
“I commend Congress for their continued efforts and look forward to President Obama signing the bill into law.”