WASHINGTON, July 29, 2009 --We are quite concerned that the funding level for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that was approved by the Senate health appropriations subcommittee is not where it needs to be to sustain medical research advances that can improve the lives of millions of Americans who suffer from heart disease and stroke. The 1.5 percent increase will not even cover the cost of medical research inflation nor will it allow researchers to explore many promising new scientific opportunities. The implications of this funding level could be chilling next year when the one-time resources for the NIH in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) expire. We urge the Congress to avoid the peak and valley approach in supporting the NIH that has delayed progress in the battle against heart disease and stroke and other chronic illnesses.

The association commends the Senate subcommittee for concurring with House appropriators in sticking to their policy of allowing the science, rather than politics, to determine how funding should be allocated for different diseases. With only four-percent of its budget for heart research and a mere one-percent for stroke research, the NIH does not have sufficient resources to support innovative research. The association strongly believes that funding should be based on the burden of disease and other criteria established by the NIH.

Strategies to prevent heart disease and stroke must also remain a priority for Congress. The 5.8 percent increase for the CDC’s Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program is a step in the right direction and we applaud the Senate subcommittee for including $21 million for the WISEWOMAN program. However, we’re disappointed the Senate failed to provide a funding increase for HRSA’s Rural and Community Access to Emergency Devices Program. Presently, only 12 states receive funding for this essential program which helps more Americans survive sudden cardiac arrest.

We urge conferees to boost funding levels to help sustain and expand critical heart disease and stroke research and prevention programs that will benefit all Americans and future generations. Specifically, we advocate for the House-passed funding levels for the NIH and HRSA’s Rural and Community Access to Emergency Devices Program and the Senate Subcommittee-approved funding levels for the CDC’s Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention and WISEWOMAN programs.