Bill Summary
The resolution expresses the Senate's strong belief that the operations of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) must continue uninterrupted and adequately funded, as mandated by law. It emphasizes the importance of the NIH workforce—composed of scientists, researchers, and medical professionals—in driving medical advancements and addressing critical health issues, such as childhood cancers, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, heart disease, infectious diseases, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The resolution stresses that any disruption to NIH funding or operations could jeopardize public health initiatives and the development of essential treatments, ultimately threatening the health and economic stability of the nation.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the legislation expressed in the resolution could affect people:
1. **Continued Medical Research and Treatment Development**: By ensuring that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) operations are uninterrupted and well-funded, the resolution promotes the ongoing research and development of treatments for serious health conditions such as childhood cancers, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes. This could lead to faster breakthroughs in medical treatments, improving the quality of life and survival rates for patients suffering from these diseases.
2. **Job Security for NIH Workforce**: The resolution emphasizes the importance of the NIH workforce, which includes scientists, researchers, and medical professionals. By asserting that their roles are essential, it may help to protect their jobs and funding stability. This job security can boost morale and productivity, ultimately benefiting the research output and innovation in medical fields, which is crucial for public health.
3. **Public Health and Economic Stability**: The resolution links the operational stability of the NIH to the broader health, economic vitality, and national security of the United States. By preventing funding disruptions, the NIH can continue to address public health emergencies and develop responses to infectious diseases and other health threats. This proactive approach can lead to a healthier population, reducing healthcare costs and enhancing productivity, which benefits the economy as a whole.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 93 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 93
Expressing the sense of the Senate that the operations of the National
Institutes of Health should not experience any interruption, delay, or
funding disruption in violation of the law and that the workforce of
the National Institutes of Health is essential to sustaining medical
progress.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 25, 2025
Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Alsobrooks, Mr. Schumer,
Mrs. Murray, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Smith, Mr.
Booker, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Coons, Mr. Welch, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Merkley,
Mr. Gallego, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Rosen, Mr.
King, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Markey, and Mr. Reed) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Senate that the operations of the National
Institutes of Health should not experience any interruption, delay, or
funding disruption in violation of the law and that the workforce of
the National Institutes of Health is essential to sustaining medical
progress.
Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
(1) to protect the health, economic vitality, and national
security of the people of the United States, the operations of
the National Institutes of Health, including funding research
on childhood cancers, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, heart
disease, infectious disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and
other diseases and conditions, should not be subject to any
interruption, delay, or funding disruption in violation of the
law; and
(2) the workforce of the National Institutes of Health,
comprised of scientists, researchers, and medical
professionals, is essential to sustaining medical progress, and
any interference with its work undermines efforts to develop
life-saving treatments, weakens the biomedical research
enterprise, and threatens the Nation's ability to respond to
public health challenges.
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