Senator Murray at NIH Budget Hearing: We Cannot Afford to Slash Our Investments in Lifesaving Research

Hearing

"As Senator Collins and I have said from the start of these hearings, we are very determined to get back to regular order and make sure we pass the funding necessary to keep our families safe and healthy, and keep our nation competitive--and that simply has to include providing robust funding for the National Institutes of Health. Because, at the end of the day, what we get for these investments are really important discoveries that keep our nation competitive, that prepare us for pandemics and other health crises, give families more time with loved ones, and give patients hope for the future.

That's not just worth the cost--it is priceless.

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After a global pandemic that brought the world economy to a grinding halt and cost more than one million American lives, House Republicans are seriously suggesting that we slash funding for lifesaving research. So if we truly care about protecting families, we need to understand that this funding is just as critical as the investments we make in our military, and we cannot forget the millions of families who fighting cancer, Alzheimer's, substance use disorders, long-COVID, and so much more. We have to make sure our investments reflect the reality that illness is one of our nation's deadliest adversaries and biggest economic and national security threats.

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I have been pressing NIH for years about how to ensure that federal dollars are not flowing to researchers who harass or bully or retaliate against or create a hostile environment for colleagues and students and how to ensure NIH workers themselves are not continuing to experience harassment. So I have to say: I am really appalled by recent reporting that an NIH-funded scientist who faced institutional disciplinary action because he was found to have sexually harassed colleagues was simply able to transfer his award from one university to another research institute, where he then harassed a trainee in his new lab. And even worse, NIH awarded him a new $2.5 million grant. That happened despite Congress directing NIH to make it mandatory for institutions to inform NIH when scientists or key staff are removed or otherwise disciplined due to harassment, bullying, retaliation or hostile working conditions.

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It is completely unacceptable. What is NIH doing to fully implement the requirements under last year's law that such actions must be reported to the agency? And how are you using that requirement to enforce workplace protections against harassment?

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Because at the end of the day innovation isn't just driven by programs, it is driven by people. And we need the best and brightest--and if this is what they see around them, we are going to lose them. So this is critical."

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