House and Senate Pass Bill to Provide 3.1 Percent Increase for NIH in FY 2008; Grassroots Support Needed to Override Presidential Veto
November 9, 2007 – House and Senate negotiators have reached an agreement on and passed legislation containing final funding levels for fiscal year (FY) 2008 appropriations legislation for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies.
Under the terms of the agreement, $30 billion in funding is provided for NIH in FY 2008. This is an increase of $1.1 billion (3.8 percent) over the FY 2007 level. The conferees added an additional $100 million beyond what the Senate had proposed and $350 million beyond the level proposed by the House. However, the final bill takes the same approach as earlier versions drafted by the House and Senate and transfers funds from NIH to the Global HIV/AIDS fund; as a result, the net increase proposed by the final agreement is $899 million (3.1 percent).
National Institutes of Health Funding
(Dollars in Billions)
| |
FY 2007 Final |
FY 2008 Proposed |
FY 2008 House |
FY 2008 Senate |
FY 2008 Conference Report |
NIH (total) |
28.9 |
28.6 |
29.7 |
29.9 |
30.0 |
NHLBI |
2.92 |
2.93 |
2.99 |
2.99 |
3.00 |
NCI |
4.79 |
4.78 |
4.88 |
4.91 |
4.93 |
NIDDK |
1.70 |
1.71 |
1.73 |
1.75 |
1.75 |
NIA |
1.05 |
1.05 |
1.06 |
1.07 |
1.08 |
NCRR |
.13 |
1.11 |
1.17 |
1.18 |
1.18 |
The final bill passed the Senate passed on November 7 by a vote of 56-37; the House passed the measure for a final time on November 8 by a vote of 274 to 141.
Though the 3.1 percent increase provided by congressional appropriators in this bill is a major victory for ASH and NIH supporters, the funding levels are still not final and must be signed by President Bush. The White House has reiterated the President’s intent to veto the bill because of funding increases contained in the bill.
Efforts by ASH and others in the research community to push for a higher NIH funding level were instrumental in securing an additional $100 million for NIH. Continued grassroots advocacy is needed to help ensure that Congress will have enough votes to override the President’s veto.
Take Action: All ASH members are strongly encouraged to visit the ASH Advocacy Center and send an e-mail to their Senators and Representative urging them to support funding for NIH and override the threatened veto this funding measure.
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