Van Hollen and NIH Director Collins Warn Against Damaging Government Shutdown, Push for Greater Investment in Research

Press Release

Today Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, joined National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Francis S. Collins to warn of the damaging consequences of a potential federal government shutdown and the failure to make necessary investments in scientific research. Congressman Van Hollen and Dr. Collins toured NIH facilities in Bethesda and met with employees who are hampered by the uncertainty of funding for their research. They also met with a child who whose cancer was cured through groundbreaking treatments at NIH, the kind of treatments some kids with cancer would be unable to receive during a government shutdown.

"During the last shameful government shutdown, new cancer patients were deferred treatment, potentially lifesaving research was tabled, and thousands of NIH employees were off the job and worried if they'd even get their paychecks," said Congressman Van Hollen. "We can avoid another disastrous government shutdown, but Republicans need to come to the table now to ensure that the brilliant NIH employees I met with today can continue their valuable work. At the same time, we need to end the harmful sequester-level funding caps that have hindered medical progress and make the necessary investments to find cures and help our biotech sector remain competitive."

Congressman Van Hollen has introduced the Prevent a Government Shutdown Act of 2015 to start budget negotiations and prevent a shutdown, while ensuring agencies like NIH are funded at levels necessary for innovation in the event of a failure to come to an agreement by September 30, the end of the fiscal year.

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