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U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
Creating Jobs,
Saving Lives
Medical research not only creates jobs — it saves lives. But critical
research — on cancer prevention, on new prescription drugs, and on
cures for deadly diseases — is often left unfunded. In fact, nine out
of 11 research grants go unfunded.
The National Institutes of Health, or NIH, represents the cornerstone
of medical advancement in the United States. It is our nation’s largest
funder of life sciences research and has a presence — both direct and
indirect — in every state and nearly every congressional district.
Because of this investment — along with advances in worker safety,
clean water, and infrastructure, among others — Americans are living
three decades longer than they were in 1900, with a quality of life
that continues to improve.
And the NIH not only helps us lead healthier lives — it helps to create
thousands of jobs at universities, institutions, local governments,
private businesses, non-profits, and collaborations all across the
state.
I am proud that Ohio is a top-ten leader in economic activity created
through NIH funding. Last year alone, Ohio received more than $670
million in NIH funding, and in 2013, the NIH awarded grants and
contracts that directly supported more than 14,200 jobs in Ohio.
But NIH funding is declining.
As a percentage of the total federal budget, we now spend two-thirds
less on research and development than we did in 1965, and the
percentage of research grants receiving National Institutes of Health
(NIH) funding has declined almost every year of the past decade. This
leaves important – and even lifesaving– research on the cutting room
floor.
Sen. Brown in Cleveland speaking to CDC.
We know that federal funding is vital to research — more than 60
percent of priority review drugs directly cite government research in
their patent applications.
That is why I helped introduce two bills that would help direct
additional funds to NIH and other federally-supported research
institutions.
The Medical Innovation Act would generate funding for the NIH by
redirecting into NIH research a small portion of funds from the
settlement agreements big pharmaceutical companies that have broken the
law make with the government.
This would support drug companies’ efforts to develop new cures, while
making it difficult for corporations to profit from breaking the law
and defrauding taxpayers. If this policy had been in place over the
past five years, it would have generated an additional $6 billion more
each year for the NIH.
The American Cures Act would increase funding across the board for the
NIH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of
Defense Health Program and the Veterans Medical & Prosthetics
Research Program, at the rate of inflation plus five percent.
This would guarantee a steady, long-term investment in one of our most
important industries.
Both of these bills would create jobs in Ohio, and ensure we are
investing in the technology that will allow us to continue to lead the
world when it comes to research and innovation.
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