Senator Warren Calls on Congress to Double NIH Funding, Promotes Critical Government Investments in Scientific Research
Remarks as prepared for delivery are available here
BOSTON, MA - In remarks to the Boston Chamber of Commerce today, United States Senator Elizabeth Warren called on Congress to double funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and stressed the importance of supporting innovation and basic scientific research. "What drives the Massachusetts economy - and the American economy - is innovation," said Senator Warren. "Innovation makes us soar. And government-supported research is a critical first step in generating that innovation."
"When it comes to the economy and the budget, refusing to invest in the NIH is the budgetary equivalent of cutting off your feet to save money on shoes," said Senator Warren. Studies have shown that increasing public investment in basic biomedical research directly increases the number of new drugs on the market. "I am reaching out to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to build support for a renewed commitment to innovation. We need two things: to double our investment in scientific and biomedical research -- and to create more year-to-year certainty for that funding.
"I know some will say that we cannot afford to double our investments in medical research. They are wrong. Research creates economic growth. It reduces health care costs. It creates a better life for our people. And yet, the success rate for NIH grants has dropped by nearly 50% over the last 10 years. That makes no sense. There is good work to be done-work to save lives and work to boost our economy. We cannot afford NOT to increase our investments in medical research."
###
Next Article
