Draft Appropriations Measure Released Today Includes $350 Million for Additional Research Funding, Similar to Senate Bill
WASHINGTON, DC—The House Appropriations Committee has released its proposal for a fiscal year 2017 Labor, Health and Human Services funding bill that includes a $350 million increase for Alzheimer’s disease research funding, a move strongly supported today by the UsAgainstAlzheimer’s organization.
The spending measure, scheduled for subcommittee markup tomorrow (July 7), would fund Alzheimer’s disease research at the National Institutes of Health at $1.26 billion in the next fiscal year, $350 million more than the current level. This is comparable to the Senate Labor-HHS appropriations bill passed last month that includes a $400 million funding increase
“We appreciate this understanding on Capitol Hill that Alzheimer’s disease is a growing national tragedy, affecting over 5.4 million Americans afflicted with the disease and millions more who sacrifice physically, emotionally and financially as caregivers,” said UsAgainstAlzheimer’s co-founder and chairman George Vradenburg. “Many more lives will be devastated in the near and ongoing future if we don’t press for the scientific breakthroughs that will enable effective treatment and, eventually, a cure. This additional funding brings hope a little bit closer.”
Vradenburg said he is appreciative of subcommittee chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) and ranking Democratic member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) for their leadership in advancing the additional funding.
He added, “Right now, our nation spends $226 billion annually caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease. We’re devoting just a tiny fraction of that sum to the research that will, one day, solve the complex neurological mysteries that cause such pain and suffering and reduce the cost of this disease to American families and society. With promising drug development taking place, this is the time to press harder for breakthroughs. This proposed increase in funding is the right step at the right time for millions of our fellow citizens.”
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UsAgainstAlzheimer's (UsA2) is an innovative non-profit organization demanding – and delivering – a solution to Alzheimer’s. Driven by the suffering of millions of families, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s presses for greater urgency from government, industry and the scientific community in the quest for an Alzheimer's cure – accomplishing this through effective leadership, collaborative advocacy, and strategic investments.
Founded in 2010, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s has worked across sectors to: (1) secure the national goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer’s by 2025 and help secure nearly $500 million in additional public funding for Alzheimer’s research over the past few years; (2) drive global efforts that resulted in the leaders of the world’s most powerful nations, the G7 group, to embrace a similar 2025 goal and to call for greater levels of research investment and collaboration; and (3) forge industry commitments to improve efficiencies for an expedited drug discovery and approval process.
Contact: Tim Tassa
Phone: 202-263-2580
Email: [email protected]