John Slattery, Vice Dean for Research and Graduate Education at the University of Washington, speaks about how federal funding cuts (sequestration) will constrain potential advances in patient care and dampen students’ pursuit of research careers. Watch the video here.
Category: Biomedical Research
Senate Releases FY 2013 Continuing Resolution
Senator Mikulski (D-MD), Senate Appropriations Chair, has released the Senate version of the continuing resolution for FY 2013. HHS and Education programs will continue to be funded at the FY 2012 levels minus the 5 percent cut as mandated by the March 1st OMB report and sequester order.
There are a few interesting sections in the bill that are of interest to us. First, the bill would provide a $71 million increase for NIH and requires an Institute of Medicine/National Research Council review of the National Children’s Study. Additionally, NSF would be funded at $7.25 billion, an increase of $221 million above the FY 2012 enacted level. This level will allow NSF to make about 550 more grants supporting 7,000 scientists, teachers, students, and technicians who make new discoveries leading to new products, new companies, and new jobs.
A full summary of the FY 2013 Senate Substitute CR is available on the Senate Appropriations Committee website.
The Senate is scheduled to take action on their version of the CR this week. The House passed their version last week. This will leave just one week before the Easter recess begins on March 22nd for House and Senate leaders to come to agreement on a final version.
The Office of Federal Relations is encouraged to see the small increases in NIH and NSF funding and will continue to advocate to investments in university research.
NIH Prepares for Sequestration Implementation
As mentioned in our blog post yesterday, NIH Director Francis Collins announced that NIH IC directors will develop their own plans for how to apply sequestration cuts to their institutes and centers. This was followed by NIH’s official notice posted yesterday that due to sequestration, NIH likely will reduce funding levels of non-competing continuation grants, make fewer competing awards, and for continuation awards that have already been made, may not be able to reach the full FY 2013 commitment level described in Notice of Award. Confirming Collins’ announcement, it also states that if sequestration occurs, NIH ICs will announce their individual plans to meet new budget levels. Read the full NIH notice here.
The anticipated cuts are already being seen: PIs are receiving awards sharply reduced from committed levels, forcing universities to make up the difference or find cuts, including letting go lab staff. The sequester is scheduled to take effect just a week from today.
McDermott Legislation Aims to Protect NIH from Sequestration
Yesterday, Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) introduced a bill to protect National Institutes of Health (NIH) from impending automatic federal budget cuts. The automatic budget cuts, or “sequester,” will cancel $85 billion in federal spending between March 1 and September 30, including roughly $2 billion from the NIH budget. McDermott’s bill would ensure that NIH’s budget is protected for the balance of this fiscal year.
McDermott’s press release goes on to say that Seattle’s economy relies on federal funding for biomedical research, and that Washington State’s third largest employer, the University of Washington, receives more federal funding than any other public university in the nation.
We applaud Mr. McDermott for his efforts to protect NIH from devastating cuts.
Bill Introduced to Protect NIH from Sequestration
Today, Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) joined his colleagues to introduce a bill to stop the across-the-board budget cuts scheduled for March 1st with a balance of increased revenue and sensible investments. The Balancing Act will halt impending automatic federal budget cuts, known as “sequester,” which would threaten important national investments like those in medical research—a staple of Washington State’s economy. Read more here.