SfN Applauds Agreement on NIH Funding Increase in FY17 Appropriations Omnibus
The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) applauds the $34.1 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the FY2017 omnibus appropriations bill, a $2 billion increase over FY2016, and urges swift action by Congress and the administration to enact the measure. SfN members and research advocates around the country have been actively engaging their members of Congress about the need for sustained brain research funding by sharing their discoveries and how their work advances efforts to address our nation’s human health challenges.
SfN also commends the inclusion of nearly $7.5 billion for the National Science Foundation (NSF), which has a long history of funding research that leads to the development of life-changing neurotechnologies. These funding levels demonstrate a continuation of Congress’ recent efforts to support robust funding for basic science.
NIH and NSF funding supports research, including projects like the BRAIN Initiative, that will help unravel the mysteries of the brain and one day lead to better treatments and cures for more than 1,000 brain and spinal cord diseases that directly affect more than 100 million Americans each year. The omnibus bill also allocates $260 million to NIH for the BRAIN Initiative, an increase of $110 million, and nearly $147 million for BRAIN at NSF.
SfN champions strong federal investment in science through NIH and NSF and other federal agencies. Scientific research is essential to improving public health and well-being, strengthening the nation’s economy, and ensuring the U.S. remains a world leader in the scientific enterprise.
SfN encourages its members to contact their lawmakers to urge them to support a FY2017 omnibus appropriations bill that includes a $2 billion increase for NIH to fully fund biomedical research.
