1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

The proposed $18 billion cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget threatens to inflict severe damage on America's ability to drive medical progress and maintain our global leadership in scientific research. This draconian measure would undermine efforts to develop lifesaving treatments and cures for the diseases impacting millions of Americans. It would also jeopardize high-paying jobs and economic growth fueled by the nation's preeminent biomedical research enterprise. Rather than scaling back investment, we urge bold and sustained funding increases for the NIH to accelerate the pursuit of scientific breakthroughs. Robust NIH funding translates directly into longer, healthier lives for Americans while fortifying our nation's standing as the worldwide pacesetter in biomedical innovation. The majority of Americans across the political spectrum recognize the importance of prioritizing medical research as a national imperative. We call on policymakers to heed the will of the people by robustly funding the NIH, an action that will yield immense dividends in reducing human suffering and fortifying U.S. global competitiveness.