House Budget Resolution Could Increase NIH Funding
The U.S. House of Representatives last month passed the fiscal year 2007 Budget Resolution by a vote of 218-210. The following amendment was included in the Rule for the House Budget Resolution: “The House of Representatives recognizes the need to increase the President’s fiscal year 2007 request for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriation bill by not less than $7,158,000,000.”
This amount would allow for all programs within the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill to be funded at fiscal year 2006 levels, plus a 2 percent inflationary increase, which would result in a $600 million increase for NIH in fiscal year 2007.
In addition to the important health and education programs, the House also was able to ensure that adequate funding would be provided to accommodate the President’s Competitiveness Initiative, which provides funding to the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
These budget stipulations are not final and are subject to the upcoming appropriations process.