Muttonjeff combination. He was very robust, terrific and natural athlete. Madison is a skinny little guy. This sunday on q a, the founding father James Madison and the success he made in our nation. The gift i like most about is his ability to perform to reform relationships with the great people of his era and it also opens to his gift to the country of his talents and what he was able to do to help create the first selfsustaining constitutional republic. Sunday night at 8 00 eastern and pacific on cspans q a. On tuesday, a House Appropriations subcommittee on the national health. The other National Institute leadership on president obamas fiscal year 2016 mih budget request. Visit two hours. This is two hours. Good morning. It is my pleasure to welcome you to the subcommittee on labor health, human services, and education to discuss the fiscal year 2016 National Institutes of Health Budget request. We are looking forward to hearing the testimony of dr. Collins and some of his distinguished colleagues. I would like to publicly thank dr. Collins and the staff at nih for hosting me and five other subcommittee members for a tour of the nih campus a few weeks ago. I think it is safe to say we all left the nih with a deeper appreciation to the exciting work your staff do every day to find ways to save lives. The scope of Biomedical Research supported through and at the nih is wide and we are confident that thanks to the talented staff and scientists who work there, will one day find cures for diseases like cancer and alltime worst. Ensuring a significant search base and supporting the next generation of researchers it is critical to pave the way for these longterm advancements. Your budget assumes many areas of enhanced spending on genomic activity, including a focus on ebola flu vaccine, and a biotic resistance, and alzheimers research, to list only a few. Of course, we all support Biomedical Research. Unfortunately, and sequesters law of the land and given the reality of funding allocations we might not be able to do everything that the administration has proposed on a larger bipartisan agreement. One, i hope we achieved. I look forward to having a discussion with you this morning on your Top Priorities for this year, given our funding constraints. We know how long it takes for a new drug or treatment to make it from lab to patient. Without a pipeline of young researchers committed to the scientific process of investigation and instrumentation, we will not be able to find the cures that we need. Today, we welcome Francis Collins to the subcommittee. Collins is accompanied by five members. They are anthony foxx she fauci. Dr. Thomas insel. Dr. Nora volkow. We will abide by the fiveminute rule. Before we began, i want to yield to my chairman. Then we will move to the Ranking Members. The gentlelady from connecticut and from new york. With that, mr. Chairman, you are recognized. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. Congratulations of being the new chairman on this great subcommittee and the responsibly that you have gladly taken on. Welcome to all of you for being here. Dr. Collins, your leadership role and the groundbreaking human genome project is just one example of your many talents. Im told that another one of your talents is playing guitar. Apparently. Family very well. So you have something to fall back on in case this doesnt work out. [laughter] unquestionably, you all are at the helm of research at the nih during a time that demands our country interest and investment in medical research. The recent ebola epidemic in west africa highlights the importance of nihs mission to Gain Knowledge to enhance life and reduce illness. Medical research is why the most important parts of preventing future epidemics. And about cures for diseases that are not preventable. The nih fiscal 2016 request highlights priorities such as ebola, alzheimers disease, and microbial resistance. In addition to the Public Health is it, the Economic Impact of medical research should not be underestimated. Nih Research Dollars not only Impact Research and facilities and researchers, but they also lead to new drugs and devices. I am pleased that you have seen fit to invite dr. Nora volokow. As the director of the National Institute on drug abuse, dr. Vok has been a true pioneer. She is beeno onew of the first people in history to use brain imaging. Her research has undoubtedly made the world that we live in a much greater place. She has been with us since day one as we battle drug abuse in my area, in southern and eastern kentucky. Hardhit especially by oxycontin and others. Im looking forward to seeing both of you, in fact, at the atlanta summit on Prescription Drug abuse this summer. I thank you for coming last year and helping us battle this restriction drug abuse scare that is killing more americans in car wrecks. We appreciate your dedication to the especially. We look forward to hearing, also from you today about two critical drugrelated issues. First, i am pleased that dr. Vo lkow is pursuing a study to collect rigorous longitudinal data on the fx of marijuana alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs on a Young Persons brain. Its unfathomable, to me, that states continue to pursue policies to decriminalize or legalize marijuana. Even here in the nations capital. Its ironic that in washington dc, the nations capital, you cant Smoke Cigarettes but you can still thought. Explain that to me. Help me out. We dont have Scientific Data to tell us about the longterm impact of marijuana use on the brain. Hopefully this will open a lot of minds. This study will hope close that gap, hopefully bring some muchneeded sense to the conversation about marijuana abuse in this country. Secondly im interested to hear about recent efforts regarding the abuse of prescription medications. As you well know, thats been characterized by your colleagues at cdc as a national epidemic. I understand that youre partnering with nine Major Pharmaceutical Companies to evaluate the risks associated with longterm use of opiates for the management of chronic pain. If there are nonob alternatives not obnopiate alternative we need to know about them. Its a remarkable the oxycontin a job drugs that cause so much difficulty, mostly five to six years ago the drug was changed to make it drug abuse deterrent. You cant crush it, snorted, or injected. It still retains though, the good qualities of relieving pain for an extended. Period. Thats what can be done to stem the use of opiates. I commend you for it. In addition to her longstanding struggles with drug of addiction and abuse, the research provided by nih is critical for creating cures for a home is like diabetes, cancer and Heart Disease that continue to plague my region especially. We are very proud of the partnerships we have established with nih in kentucky for example, the marquis Cancer Center. The Cancer Center at the mercy of kentucky. And the center for clinical and translational science, which previously received your award. For his works to confront Chronic Health issues in kentucky, especially in the appalachian region. Currently, 52 of the top ranked universities for Life Sciences are in the u. S. We must continue to foster the next generation of scientists. We look forward to continuing these collaborative efforts as we Work Together to bring an end to these devastating diseases. We thank you for being here. With your colleagues, dr. Collins, we expect to hear some good stuff. I yield. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Next we will go to the distinguished lady from ke connecticut. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Good morning to everyone. It is such an important topic that it was important to all of us to have the opportunity to have a full two hours with this thing was panel. Im so thrilled to welcome dr. Collins. First and foremost, let me say thank you for your work. Every scientific discovery every medical breakthrough improves the quality of our lives and most of all, it saves lives. As an almost 30 years survivor of overturning of ovarian cancer, i am alive today due to the grace of god and scientific research. When i was elected, i made that research one of my Top Priorities. As well as improving health research, it also drives are economy. Every dollar invested in nih repays that in economic growth. It employs more than 7 million americans and adds almost 70 billion to our gdp. In january of this year, along with the chairman, i had the pleasure of joined the nih and along with other members of the subcommittee. It was, as always, a fascinating visit. While there, we met a senior investigator who was largely responsible for one of the ebola Clinical Trials. That is only possible thanks to nih support. Dr. Solomon, and her colleagues, have been able to pursue a vaccine over many years. Since 1997, in fact. If we do not invest now, we will not be able to benefit from scientific discoveries, 5, 10, even 20 years from now. It is troubling to me, deeply troubling to know that since 2010, nih has seen its budget a road by about 3. 6 billion. That is an 11 cut. Sequestration is terrible policy for any budget. It is especially cool where there are literally lives at stake. In 2013, sequestration to 1. 5 billion from the nih. Even after modest increases over the past two years, we have not returned nih cost budget to pre sequestration levels. One decade ago, nih was able to find one in three applications for grants. That has fallen to one and six. A two thousand 15, nih will find almost 1000 fewer Research Projects than it did in 2010. We will never know how many scientific discoveries and medical breakthroughs the world may have missed out on because of budget restraints. That is a disturbing context in which we consider the nih budget requests for what fiscal year 2016. Overall, this budget starts to set us back on track. There are exciting initiatives in this budget. Combating antibiotic initiative defendants are against deadly superbugs. The brain holds the potential to revolutionize no science and make advances in treating alzheimers and autism. The budget includes funding for research on a universal flu vaccine, and potentially, a cure for hivaids. It also supports basic Science Research that has longterm benefits across multiple fields. As i said, i believe this is the right track. Given the severe neglect of nih over the past two years, ive disappointed that we are not restoring funding more quickly. This budget address is one third of the cuts. I introduced a bill in last congress, and again in this congress that would allow our committee to increase funding by this 10 this year, and over the next few years. We have invested strongly in nih before. In the 1990s, i was among a Bipartisan Group of members of both chambers on this committee who fought to double nihs budget over five years. To this day, it stands out among my most proud achievements. Instead of starving the nih of funds, we should be seeking to repeat that achievement and double is budget again. This cannot happen unless we undo the failed policy of sequestration and have encouraged to ask song, the wealthy, to do more to support our national priorities. By met Biomedical Research gives us the gift of life. For me and for countless others. That is what the nih represent. We can, and must, find the resources to support it. I think you. Inc. You. Thank you. I now go to the gentlelady of new york. Thank you. It is a pleasure for me to be here today. I would really like to thank the chairman for holding this hearing today. It is such an honor for me to have such a distinguished group of public servants, the doctors. I really appreciate you being with us today. I thank you for the lifesaving work that you do every day. Throughout my time in Congress Federal funding for the National Institute of health has been among my very Top Priorities. Nih is the worlds premier research institute. Its researchers have mapped the human genome. I do remember dr. Collins, that empty shape the you filled up it is really amazing. You have created vaccines that are being tested to prevent the spread of a bolla, ebola, reduce death rates by 60 over the last century, and invested in hiv therapies that turned what used to be that sentences and to longer, more productive lives. As a result, it is no surprise, but it continues to amaze me, that nihsupported scientists have been awarded no less than 145 nobel prizes. Not only does nih work and improve the life of americans it is also a springboard for economic growth. I remind my friends and neighbors all the time that not only are you moving ahead and saving lives, but you are creating jobs. Your 2016 budget request proposes an increase of 1 billion, resulting in 1200 Additional Research grants. It would make welcome investments in advance cancer treatment, Precision Medicine, increase funding for the Brain Initiative, develop treatment to combat alzheimers, autism, and other neurological and psychiatric conditions. These are the very definitions of worthy federal investment. The president has also called for the end of the mindless austerity of sequestration. In fact, i have even heard some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle referred to the mindless austerity of sequestration, urging congress to replace it with more targeted spending cuts, Program Integrity measures, closure of some outdated tax loopholes. I cannot agree with him more. The effects of sequestration are immense and still being felt. A 2013 alone sequestration reduced nih investments by 1. 5 billion. Thats why 2015 funding is still below the three c kuester level. Many critical initiatives were abruptly halted. It really was a worstcase scenario. We have to make sure it does not happen again. The United States must keep pace with the rest of the world. While nih funding is 11 to low below the 2010 level when adjusted for inflation, others have made substantial increases. Between 2007 and 2012 china increase their Public Health spending by 9 billion. Increase. We are just not keeping up. As we begin the annual process of crafting a budget resolution, i know there will be many be going viewpoints. Many of my colleagues may press for additional cuts. I think we all know how dangerous that is. Discretionary funding, which includes Biomedical Research education, job training, transportation infrastructure, and Clean Energy Development is falling to its lowest level since the eisenhower administration. We must act to ensure reasonable allocations to the important programs, and investments in the appropriations process especially the National Institutes of health and those under the jurisdiction of this subcommittee. I look forward to your testimony. Thank you again for being here before us. I look forward to nihs plans for the coming year. Thanks. Dr. Collins, your full statement will be entered into the record you are recognized for what ever introductory comments you want to make. Thank you and good morning distinguished members of the subcommittee. It is an honor to appear before you. This panel has a long history of supporting the nihs mission, to seek fundamental knowledge, lincoln life, and reduce disability. Over the last 60 years, deaths from cardiovascular disease have fallen by more than 70 . Meanwhile, cancer death rates have been dropping about 1 each year for the last 20 years. Likewise, hivaids treatments have greatly extended lives and Prevention Strategies are enabling us to envision the first aids free generation. The future of violet Biomedical Research has never been brighter. Allow me to tell you about just some of the few initiatives that we are pursuing. Lets start with vaccines. Thanks to nih research, to vaccines against ebola are being tested right now in l libya. Currently, a new flu vaccine must be created each year. That approach is not ideal, as we saw this last season. Nih is working to make a universal flu vaccine against virtually all flu vaccines. Such a vaccine could reduce the need for an annual flu vaccine. Universal flu vaccine candidates have now moved into Clinical Trials. Nih commi remains committed to fundamental research. One exciting example is the Brain Initiative. This bold, multi Agency Effort is enabling innovative technologies, you see one here, to produce a clear and more dynamic picture of how brain cells interact in time and space. This initiative will get less mental tool in major brain advances. From alzheimers, autism, schizophrenia. Scientific advances are also exhilarating progress in a new era of Precision Medicine. Doctors have had to base their treatments on the expected response of the patient. Recent advances, including the plummeting cost of dna precision, takes into account differences in jeans environments, and lifestyles. The nih takes a lead role in the multi agency precision initiative. This will focus on cancer. To accelerate efforts, this will focus on how cancer has evaded treatments, and loo