DeLauro, House Leadership Unveil Democratic Health Care Agenda

DeLauro, House Leadership Unveil Democratic Health Care Agenda

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) and the House Democratic Leadership today unveiled their broad health care initiative to bring down health care costs and ensure coverage to American families. The Democrats laid out several steps to promote fairness by improving health care, which include expanding access to affordable health care coverage (including affordable mental health coverage), cutting health care costs, increasing biomedical research, and reducing racial and ethnic disparities in health care.

DeLauro spoke at a press conference on the need for increased investment in biomedical research. Following are her remarks, as prepared for delivery.

"Among the most important steps we in Congress can take to improve health care in this country is increasing our investment in biomedical research. With biomedical research on the threshold of making breakthroughs in so many areas, the New Partnership for America's Future ensures we see seize this critical momentum, by increasing funding for the National Institutes of Health each year, including a $1.5 billion increase over what the president proposed in this year's budget.

"It is not overstating the case to say that NIH, the largest and most distinguished biomedical research organization in the world, has prolonged or improved the life of every American. Because of the research NIH has done, the cure rate for childhood leukemia is now 80 percent. New treatments discovered by the NIH that introduce human insulin producing islet cells into patients mean many Type 1 diabetics are now producing their own insulin and no longer require daily injections. Now, NIH is working on state-of-the-art treatments for Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's and HIV - investments which will save money over the long run by keeping people healthy and allowing them to live independent, productive lives.

"As someone who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 19 years ago, I know first-hand how this research can change lives - it saved mine. That is the power of NIH. All of this was only made possible because of a commitment to double NIH's budget, which created the most outstanding generation of basic and clinical scientists in history.

"And yet in the last two years, the Bush Administration and Congressional Republicans have turned back the clock on these critical investments, with this year's budget proposing the smallest increase for NIH in 36 years, reducing the number of research projects funded for the first time in a decade. The effect will be to compromise the mission of the NIH, stopping in their tracks projects already underway like one determining the relationship between infection and cardiovascular disease - while leaving us unprepared to face 21st Century health challenges like avian flu or bioterrorist attacks.

"By renewing our commitment to meet these challenges, the New Partnership for America's Future renews Congress's commitment to improving and, yes, saving the lives of millions of Americans. That is what this effort is about, and it is an honor to be a part of it.

http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2005/May/health_agenda_05_04_05.html