Lowey Statement on Department of Health and Human Services 2015 Budget Request

March 13, 2014
Press Release
Lowey Statement on Department of Health and Human Services 2015 Budget Request

I’d like to thank Chairman Kingston and Ranking Member DeLauro and welcome Secretary Sebelius. I apologize for arriving late, but I was in a meeting with the Ukrainian Prime Minister and there is another hearing with Secretary Hagel.

The Department of Health and Human Services has responsibility for administering some of the most important services and initiatives, from early childhood education to seniors’ nutrition. I strongly believe that this committee must increase investments in those areas to grow our economy and improve the quality of life of all Americans.

One of my top priorities it to increase investments in NIH. Not only does NIH’s work lead to future improvements in quality of life and other benefits stemming from basic research when it comes to diseases and disorders such as autism, Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes, and food allergies as well as the BRAIN and Big Data initiatives; it is also an economic engine. Scientists in New York receive roughly $2 billion annually in NIH grants, every dollar of which generates $2.21 in economic activity.

This is particularly important as there is a government-wide innovation deficit due to our inability to maintain adequate investments in research and development. In the last ten years, U.S. expenditures as a share of economic output have remained nearly constant while China’s has increased by nearly 90% and South Korea’s nearly 50%. We cannot afford flat budgets that hamper innovation, and it is imperative we increase investments at NIH.

I also strongly support proposed increases to help and protect the most vulnerable, including Head Start, the Child Care Development Block Grant, and Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control. And to bolster safety and preparedness, I also believe it is important we adequately invest in pandemic influenza, BioShield, BARDA, hospital preparedness, and injury and violence prevention, including gun violence.

That said, I have significant concerns with a number of proposed reductions, including CDC, LIHEAP, Children’s Hospital GME, Community Development Block Grant, and the Office on Women’s Health. And too many other vital initiatives would receive stagnant funding, in some cases being at levels below where they were just two years ago, including family planning.

Madam Secretary, your department has wide-ranging responsibilities, and I will do everything I can to ensure you have adequate resources when the committee writes its FY 2015 bill.

113th Congress