UPDATE: By a vote of 344-77, the House passed the 21st Century Cures Act with a strong NIH Innovation Fund! Thank you everyone for your support. We will be in touch soon about how you can help as the bill moves to the Senate!
Original article below:
Yes, that’s possible, but we need your help to make it a reality.
Right now, the U.S. House of Representatives is working on a bill called the 21st Century Cures Act. The bill seeks to advance the discovery and development of new medical treatments for patients, such as by providing a much needed boost of money for the National Institutes of Health through the creation of the "NIH Innovation Fund".
Specifically, the Fund would allocate an additional $8.75 billion in mandatory money for new, innovative NIH research over a five year period or $1.75 billion a year.
The House is expected to debate and vote on this legislation this week and they need to hear from you.
Please ask your U.S. Representative to vote "Yes" on the 21st Century Cures Act and keep the NIH Innovation Fund strong!
Even though the bill gives the NIH this extra boost of funding, there is an effort right now to make this funding optional. If this effort succeeds, then the $8.75 billion that the NIH desperately needs would not be guaranteed. As you know, every dollar is crucial as we explore new ways to treat, prevent, and even cure heart disease and stroke. That is why your elected officials need to know how important this proposed NIH Innovation Fund is to the future health of all Americans and that it should not be optional.
Please email your legislator and ask them to support the 21st Century Cures Act and keep the funding for the NIH Innovation Fund mandatory.