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NIH Funding Update

House-Passed Stimulus Bill
Includes $3.5 Billion Aid to NIH;
Now Moves to Senate
On Wednesday, January 28, 2009, the House of Representatives passed an $819 billion economic stimulus package, “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.”  In the House’s version, NIH received the following stimulus aid totaling $3.5 billion:

• $1.5 billion for additional scientific research ($750 million of which would not be available until Oct. 1, 2009)
• $500 million for high priority repair and improvement projects for NIH facilities at its Bethesda campus
• $1.5 billion for grants or contracts to renovate or repair existing non-Federal research facilities

Senators Harkin & Specter Echo
Friends of NIDCR’s Call for
$10 Billion Total for NIH
This week, the Senate debated its version of the economic stimulus package.  An amendment offered by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), and supported by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), to include an additional $6.5 billion in stimulus aid to NIH passed by a voice vote on Tuesday, February 3.  The amendment brings the total to $10 billion over two years for NIH. Read the testimony (pdf).

To Create 70,000 New Jobs
The Friends of NIDCR applauds Senator Harkin’s and Senator Specter’s successful effort, which was the same amount the Friends of NIDCR advocated in letters sent to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and then President-elect Barack Obama in late December/early January. Dr. Raynard Kington, Acting Director of NIH, says that the $10 billion would result in the creation of 70,000 jobs over the next two years.

A vote on the entire economic stimulus package is expected by week’s end.

Contact Your Senators Today!
Urge Them to Support H.R.1,
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Contact your senators (click here), or call the Capitol Switchboard (202.224.3121) and tell them:

1. That you are a constituent from [city/town]
2. Ask them to support H.R.1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
3. The investment in health provided by the stimulus will benefit the well-being of Americans and spur the economy
4. Say “Thank you” for the senator’s support