Further Extending Government Funding Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, I rise to support the continuing resolution, which extends government funding at current levels until we pass a full appropriations package for the next fiscal year.

It is my strong hope that this short-term extension will be the last one and that my colleagues across the aisle will acknowledge our solemn duty to exercise the power of the purse.

A continuing resolution that lasts a full year does not serve the American people. As the chair of the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, I can attest that the investments in the House interior bill would benefit all of our constituents, for those of us on both sides of the aisle.

The bill makes long-overdue investments to protect human health, to fight the climate emergency, and to meet our trust obligations to Tribal nations. It provides critical resources to rebuild the Federal workforce so that these agencies can meet their missions and better serve the public.

Failing to complete a full-year bill means no additional investments in the EPA to research and develop standards for harmful pollutants like PFAS, no further investments in domestic renewable energy, and insufficient resources for the healthcare of nearly 2.2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Regardless of whether we pass a full-year bill, we can be certain that millions of Americans will be exposed to pollution, that healthcare costs will rise, and that our window for mitigating climate change will shrink.

To ignore these threats is not in the Nation's best interest, nor any of ours. We were sent to Congress to improve the lives and livelihoods of our constituents.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, but I encourage my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to finish the bill.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research. The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research, November 15, 2021. Hon. Rosa DeLauro, Chair, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Kay Granger, Ranking Member, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Patrick Leahy, Chair, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Hon. Richard Shelby, Vice Chair, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairwoman DeLauro, Chairman Leahy, Ranking Member Granger, and Vice Chairman Shelby: Thank you for your past leadership in championing sustained, real growth in medical research funding. As Congress begins to draft a final fiscal year (FY) 2022 spending package, the 314 undersigned members of the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research urge you to invest robustly in agencies and programs to improve the nation's health and well-being, including base funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as a key national priority and to finalize the appropriations process as expeditiously as possible. The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research is a coalition of patient and voluntary health groups, medical and scientific societies, academic and research organizations, and industry, dedicated to enhancing the federal investment in biomedical, behavioral, social, and population-based research supported by the NIH.

We greatly appreciate that both the House-passed (H.R. 4502) and Senate draft Labor-HHS-Education spending bills include strong increases for the NIH base in FY 2022, which would provide greater hope and opportunity for every patient awaiting a cure, every researcher working toward the next breakthrough, and every aspiring scientist considering a career in the lab. To maximize the potential of medical research to make rapid progress toward these goals, we urge you to provide at least $46.4 billion for NIH's base, as included in the House-passed bill. Continuing the momentum of the prior six years of bipartisan support for meaningful funding growth in the NIH's existing institutes and centers is key to ensuring that the nation can continue to accelerate the development of life-changing cures, pioneering treatments and diagnostics, and innovative preventive strategies.

Additionally, we appreciate that both bills ensure that the new investment for the proposed Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) supplements, rather than supplants, the NIH's base. While complementary, NIH and ARPA- H have distinct and important missions. As such, investment in ARPA-H must not come at the expense of the NIH base. Instead, to fully realize the benefits of the envisioned new entity while simultaneously allowing NIH to keep pace with discovery, an FY 2022 appropriation of at least $46.4 billion for NIH's base budget is needed. Prioritizing strong investments for foundational research discoveries funded by the NIH will be critical to the success of the visionary new research initiative, particularly as it builds its operational capacity in its inaugural year and beyond. Likewise, avoiding further delays in finalizing funding determinations will enable both ARPA-Hand NIH's planned and existing programs to be maximally efficient and strategic in their work in FY 2022.

To that end, our organizations strongly support an approach to the final FY 2022 spending package that avoids additional CRs past December. Aside from the budget implications, CRs create inefficiencies and add uncertainty to a system that is already under stress with the continued reverberations of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We strongly urge you to work swiftly in securing bipartisan, bicameral agreement on topline discretionary spending allocations and to ensure any final budget agreement reflects a strong commitment to the nation's health.

Once again, we commend you for continuing to recognize the incomparable value of the federal investment in the NIH, and we look forward to working with you to secure $46.4 billion for the agency's base in FY 2022, in addition to funding you provide for ARPA-H.

Sincerely, 314 Signatories as of November 15, 2021

Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health, Academic Pediatric Association, Academy for Eating Disorders, Academy for Professionalism in Health Care, Academy for Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Research, ACT for NIH, AdventHealth, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM), Alliance for Aging Research, ALS Association, Alzheimer's Association and Alzheimer's Impact Movement, Alzheimer's Foundation of America, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP), American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Association for Anatomy, American Association for Cancer Research, American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American Association of Directors of Psychiatry Residency Training, American Association of Immunologists, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine, American Association of Physicists in Medicine, American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, American Brain Coalition, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American College of Academic Addiction Medicine (ACAAM), American College of Cardiology.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians, American College of Radiology, American College of Surgeons, American Council on Education, American Gastroenterological Association American Geriatrics Society, American Headache Society, American Institute for Cancer Research, American Institute for Medical & Biomedical Engineering, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, American Liver Foundation, American Lung Association, American Massage Therapy Association, American Pediatric Society, American Physiological Society, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, American Society for Investigative Pathology.

American Society for Microbiology, American Society for Nutrition, American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), American Society for Virology, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Society of Hematology, American Society of Human Genetics, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Neuroradiology, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, American Society of Radiologic Technologists, American Surgical Association, American Thoracic Society, American Urogynecologic Society, American Urological Association, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Associated Medical Schools of New York.

Association for Anatomy, Cell Biology and Neurobiology Chairs (AACBNC), Association for Clinical and Translational Science, Association for Clinical Oncology, Association for Prevention Teaching and Research, Association for Psychological Science, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), Association of Academic Health Centers (AAHC), Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries, Association of Academic Physiatrists.

Association of American Cancer Institutes, Association of American Medical Colleges, Association of American Universities, Association of Bioethics Program Directors, Association of Chairs of Departments of Physiology, Association of Independent Research Institutes, Association of Medical and Graduate Departments of Biochemistry (AMGDB), Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs, Association of Minority Health Professions Schools, Association of Pathology Chairs, Association of Population Centers, Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, Association of University Professors of Neurology, Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology, Association of University Radiologists, Atrium Health, Autism Speaks.

AVAC (AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition), Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Bassett Healthcare Network, Biophysical Society, BJC HealthCare, Boston Medical Center, Boston University, Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Brown University, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, CDH International, Cedars-Sinai, Child Neurology Foundation, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, ChristianaCare.

Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Clinical Research Forum, Coalition for Clinical and Translational Science, Coalition for the Life Sciences, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Columbia University, COMBINEDBrain, Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Consortium of Social Science Associations, Cooley's Anemia Foundation, Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Cornell University, Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology, Council on Social Work Education, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, CURE Epilepsy, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Digestive Disease National Coalition, Dravet Syndrome Foundation, Drexel University, Duke Health, Duke University, Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, East Carolina University, ECAN Esophageal Cancer Action Network, Emory University, Endocrine Society, Epilepsy Foundation, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Fight Colorectal Cancer, Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Friends of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, GBSICIDP Foundation International, Global Health Technologies Coalition.

Global Liver Institute, Harvard University, HealthyWomen, Henry Ford Health System, HIV Medicine Association, Hope For Stomach Cancer, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Indiana University, Indiana University Health, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Initiative to End Alzheimer's Disease Board of Visitors, International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders, International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), Interstitial Cystitis Association, JDRF, Jeffrey Modell Foundation, John & Amy Mewhiney Cancer Foundation, Johns Hopkins University and Medicine, Joslin Diabetes Center, KidneyCAN.

Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Lewy Body Dementia Association, LGS Foundation, Lupus Foundation of America, Lymphatic Education & Research Network, Magee- Womens Research Institute and Foundation, March of Dimes, Mass General Brigham, Medical College of Wisconsin, Medical Image Perception Society, Medical Library Association, Memorial Sloan Kettering, MemorialCare Health System, Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, METAvivor, Michelson Center for Public Policy, Michelson Medical Research Foundation, Michigan State University, Moffitt Cancer Center, National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research.

National Alopecia Areata Foundation, National Association for Biomedical Research, National Eczema Association, National Fragile X Foundation, National Kidney Foundation, National Pancreas Foundation, NephCure Kidney International, New York Medical College, New York University, North American Vascular Biology Organization, Northeastern University, Nutrition & Medical Foods Coalition, NYU Langone Health, Oakland University, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Patient Services, Inc., Pediatric Policy Council, Penn State University, Personalized Medicine Coalition.

Population Association of America, Project Sleep, Prostate Cancer Foundation, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, Pulmonary Hypertension Association, Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Association, Research!America, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, RTI International, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Scleroderma Foundation, Sjogren's Foundation, Sleep Research Society, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine.

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Society for Neuroscience, Society for Pediatric Radiology, Society for Pediatric Research, Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Society for Reproductive Investigation, Society for Women's Health Research, Society of Academic Associations of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine (SAAAPM), Society of Behavioral Medicine, Society of General Internal Medicine, Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Society of Skeletal Radiology, Society of Surgical Chairs, Society of Toxicology (SOT), Society of University Surgeons, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Stanford University, Stony Brook University, Syngap1 Foundation.

Temple University, Texas A&M Health, The American College of Rheumatology, The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The Gerontological Society of America, The Jackson Laboratory, The Maya's Wings Foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, The State University of New York, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, The University of North Carolina System, The University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Triage Cancer, TSC Alliance, Tulane University School of Medicine, UC San Diego, UCLA, UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

University of California, Irvine, University of Chicago Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, University of Colorado System, University of Connecticut, University of Hawai'i System, University of Illinois College of Medicine, University of Iowa, University of Maryland, Baltimore, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, University of Michigan, University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences, University of Rochester, University of South Carolina, University of Southern California, University of Washington, US Hereditary Angioedema Association (HAEA).

USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, UVA Health, Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Washington State University, Washington University in St. Louis, West Virginia University, Yale University.

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