Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020
Floor Speech
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Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 2740 to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health, located in Bethesda, Maryland. It would provide a modest $5 million increase to NIH's building and facilities account.
Mr. Chair, this amendment would increase funding for the NIH, which is proudly housed in the Eighth Congressional District of Maryland, and it would constitute a $5 million increase to the NIH building and facilities account to begin to address an estimated $2 billion backlog in maintenance and repairs.
I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the distinguished chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee.
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Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Chair, the NIH, of course, is a national treasure, which sets the standard for cutting-edge biomedical research in our country. Its breakthroughs have saved the lives of countless Americans and remains a source of hope for millions more across the country.
While the NIH does, indeed, under this bill, receive the necessary funding increase for scientific research and medical treatments, NIH's buildings, the places where the scientists conduct their research and where medical professionals provide patients with their treatments, have fallen into alarming and embarrassing disrepair and decay.
There have been significant issues with flooding, broken fire sprinklers, deteriorating plumbing systems, and massive water pipe ruptures. A steam pipe leak flooded a basement where expensive equipment is stored.
Last year, a clinic was evacuated when antifreeze began leaking from the ceiling. A corroded pipe had caused a flood of glycol--that is antifreeze--in the mechanical room, which can be seen in chart one. And in chart two, this is the flood that resulted from the gushing from the ceiling into the clinic below. This presented a very dangerous situation.
So when I say that the NIH desperately needs funding for maintenance and repairs, we are not talking about minor aesthetic quibbles; we are talking about very serious structural renovations that are needed. $5 million is just a drop in the bucket in terms of what NIH actually needs, but we have to start somewhere.
Having spoken with Ms. DeLauro, I will actually withdraw the amendment. I understand that we are able to receive consideration from the subcommittee. I want to thank her very much for her willingness to work with us.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time, and I withdraw the amendment.
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