Renewing the Economy Through Research

The Senate debate on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - aka the stimulus package - begins today. The chamber is likely to be very busy voting on a long list of amendments to the bill, including Senator Arlen Specter's proposal to increase NIH funding.

Sen. Specter's amendment would add $6.5 billion to the $3.5 billion for NIH currently included in the bill. Additional funds provided by the amendment would be distributed to the Institutes and Centers proportional to their current funding level. It's important to let your senators know that you support $10 billion for NIH in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Research is an economic driver. The FamiliesUSA report, In Your Own Backyard, showed that every dollar of NIH funding results in more than twice as much state economic output. Each grant also supports about 7 jobs with average annual salaries of $52,000. Investing in the NIH will create and sustain high-paying jobs in every state while improving the lives and health of Americans.

**UPDATE: Senators Tom Harkin and Dick Durbin are co-sponsoring the NIH amendment.