Congressman Juan Vargas Leads Letter to President Obama, Requesting an Increase in Funding for the National Institutes of Health in the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request
Washington, DC (December 08, 2015) - Today, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) is leading a group of 38 Representatives from across the United States in sending a letter to President Obama requesting he increase funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the FY2017 budget request.
“The U.S. is a global leader in innovation in medical research. Unfortunately, that title is threatened by the past decade’s steady decline in research activities due to budget cuts and underfunding,” said Rep. Vargas. “The NIH has played an essential role in improving our nation’s health by being a trailblazer in the virtual eradication of fatal diseases such as influenza, tuberculosis and gastrointestinal infections. By allocating the necessary funds to the NIH today, we can help eliminate current life threatening diseases that affect our population and again secure the nation’s top spot in medical research. My colleagues and I urge President Obama to consider the importance NIH research has in our society and the effects proper funding can have on our nation’s medical research capabilities.”
“San Diego is a national leader in the field of medical research and NIH funding plays a key role in the breakthroughs and discoveries that are made every day,” said Rep. Davis. “Budget cuts have threatened this critical funding, affecting medical advancements and our local economy. We need to keep NIH funding at a level that ensures San Diego and the United States remain world leaders in medical research.”
“Increasing the annual NIH budget will keep our country’s scientific research competitive and lead to research and discovery that will save lives,” said Rep. Peters. “San Diego institutions and labs received nearly $400 million in NIH funds last year, supporting thousands of high-quality jobs, and rely on consistent investments to complete their groundbreaking research.”
According to a Biocom study on NIH Funding, every $1 in NIH funding generates $2.2 in local economic growth. The letter addressed to the President asks to consider including $40.87 billion to the FY2017 budget request.
Members of Congress signing on to the letter are Rep. Susan Davis (CA-53), Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52), Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Rep. Jackie Speier (CA-14), Rep. John Lewis (GA-5), Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-4), Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ-3), Rep. Jim McDermott (WA-7), Rep. David Cicilline (RI-1), Rep. Charles Rangel (NY-13), Rep. Keith Ellison (MN-5), Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-2), Rep. Albio Sires (NJ-8), Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-2), Rep. Dina Titus (NV-1), Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Rep. Alan Grayson (FL-9), Rep. Tim Ryan (OH-13), Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-13), Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD-8), Rep. John Garamendi (CA-3), Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-1), Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-2), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Rep. John Delaney (MD-6), Rep. Peter Welch (Vermont), Rep. Donald Beyer (VA-8), Rep. Mike Honda (CA-17), Rep. Dave Loebsack (IA-2), Rep. Alcee Hastings (FL-20), Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-9), Rep. Patrick Murphy (FL-18), Rep. Jerry McNerney (CA-9).
Read the letter: [[{"fid":"373","view_mode":"full","fields":{"format":"full"},"type":"media","attributes":{"class":"file media-element file-full"}}]].
Vargas represents California’s 51st Congressional District which includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial County and California’s entire US/Mexico border. Vargas was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and is currently serving his second term in Congress. He represented the 40th California State Senate District from 2010-2012, the 79th California State Assembly District from 2000 – 2006 and served on the San Diego City Council from 1993 – 2000.
Congresswoman Davis represents the 53rd Congressional District, which includes La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley and parts of San Diego, El Cajon, and Chula Vista. She is senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, serving as the Ranking Member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee. She also serves on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Congressman Peters serves the 52nd District of California which covers much of central San Diego County including Poway, Coronado, and large portions of the City of San Diego. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Judiciary Committee. The Congressman is a former environmental attorney, City Council President, and Port Commission Chairman.