1Urging the Congress of the United States to increase funding to
2the National Institutes of Health.

3WHEREAS, Between 2010 and 2011, total health care spending
4increased by 4%; and

5WHEREAS, However, health care spending, including biomedical
6and health research and development, accounts for less than 5%
7of overall spending; and

8WHEREAS, In 2011, biomedical and health research and
9development spending declined by more than $4 billion or 3%; and

10WHEREAS, If the United States is to achieve its goal of
11improving the public's health, the nation's investment in health
12research must continue to grow long term; and

13WHEREAS, Research funding by the National Institutes of
14Health (NIH) drives the transformation of the practice of
15medicine; and

16WHEREAS, The NIH's ability to conduct and support lifesaving
17research is at risk without increased funding; and

1WHEREAS, The White House Office of Management and Budget has
2estimated that the NIH alone could lose $2.53 billion in funding
3in fiscal year 2013; and

4WHEREAS, NIH-supported research has resulted in the
5prevention, diagnosis and treatment of many diseases and has
6decreased the absolute number of cancer deaths in this nation;
7and

8WHEREAS, In 2011, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ranked 5th
9in the total amount of money awarded by the NIH to conduct and
10support research; and

11WHEREAS, Recent polls show that a majority of Americans said
12more funding for medical and health research now is essential to
13our future health and economic prosperity; and

14WHEREAS, Activities supported by NIH are integral to this
15nation's international competitiveness and to the health and
16well-being of all Americans; therefore be it

17RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
18Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
19States to enact legislation to increase funding to the National
20Institutes of Health by 6.7% in each of the next three years to
21accelerate the momentum of discovery to improve health and
22quality of life for millions of Americans; and be it further

23RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
24the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
25member of Congress from Pennsylvania.