Protecting National Institutes of Health
Floor Speech
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Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, the administration recently announced sharp cuts to Federal grant funding for universities, medical centers, and other research institutions. These cuts will devastate our students, our professors, and our seniors.
What concerns me the most is these cuts will devastate Puerto Rico. Why?
The NIH, the target of these cuts, funds critical medical research. During the past year, the NIH has supported 73 projects and provided up to $53 million for Puerto Rico's universities, hospitals, and research centers like Centro Medico in San Juan.
These cuts threaten local programs studying diseases that disproportionately affect Puerto Ricans, like diabetes, Alzheimer's, cancer, and other rare diseases. These cuts will hinder scientific research and progress. These cuts will hinder people's access to healthcare. These cuts will set us back vis-a-vis China and our geopolitical rivals.
The government cannot treat people like numbers on a spreadsheet. We can't cut corners on healthcare and education. We can't fall behind our global rivals. We must protect the NIH.
Now, for the benefit of my constituents, I will repeat my remarks in Spanish.
(Spanish translation of the statement made in English is as follows:)
Senor presidente:
La Administracion anuncio recientemente recortes drasticos en la financiacion de subvenciones federales para universidades, centros medicos y otros instituciones de investigacion.
Estos recortes devastaran a nuestros estudiantes, nuestros profesores y nuestros adultos mayores.
Lo que mas me preocupa: estos recortes devastaran a Puerto Rico.
rPor que?
Los NIH, el objetivo de estos recortes, financian investigaciones medicas cruciales.
Durante el ultimo ano, los NIH han apoyado 73 proyectos y proporcionado hasta $53 millones a universidades, hospitales y centros de investigacion en Puerto Rico como el Centro Medico en San Juan.
Estos recortes amenazan programas locales que estudian enfermedades que afectan desproporcionadamente a los puertorriquenos, como el cancer, la diabetes, el Alzheimer y otras enfermedades raras.
Estos recortes obstaculizaran la investigacion y el progreso cientifico.
Estos recortes dificultaran el acceso del pueblo a la atencion medica.
Estos recortes nos haran retroceder frente a China y nuestros rivales geopoliticos.
El gobierno no puede tratar a las personas como cifras en una hoja de calculo.
No podemos recortar en salud y educacion.
No podemos quedarnos atras frente a nuestros rivales globales.
Debemos proteger a los NIH.
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