May 2017
Although NIH received a $2 billion funding increase in the federal spending bill for fiscal year (FY) 2017, the congressional appropriations process for next year, FY2018, has already begun. In his proposed FY2018 budget, President Trump proposes cutting NIH by 19 percent. If enacted, this funding reduction would bring research at universities across the U.S. to a standstill and lead to massive job losses at universities and medical centers. Worse, it would delay research breakthroughs on medical conditions that affect millions of Americans. In order to continue the development of treatments and cures for Americans with lung diseases such as COPD and lung cancer, the NIH budget must continue to grow.
A Dear Colleague sign on letter is being circulated by Sen. Burr (R-NC) and Sen. Casey (D-PA) in the U.S. Senate to demonstrate broad bipartisan support for NIH funding. Contact your two senators by May 18 to urge them to sign the Casey-Burr NIH letter (scroll down the page).
