Proposed Cuts Will Weaken Public Health, Limit Access to Life-Saving Treatments
Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, alongside Colorado U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette, Jason Crow, Joe Neguse, Brittany Pettersen urged the U.S. Senate and House Appropriations Committees to protect critical medical research funding in Colorado. The letter follows the Trump Administration’s recently announced plans to cut more than $4 billion in federal funding for biomedical research nationwide.
“Federal commitment to cutting edge research in health care results in real medical and scientific advancements which benefits us all. As we see life expectancy fall in this country for the first time in decades, we can’t cut the very funding that supports the research responsible for the drastic improvement in life expectancy due to widespread vaccine adoption and clean drinking water,” wrote Bennet, Hickenlooper, and the lawmakers.
In 2023, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded over $575 million to Colorado researchers to solve cancer, study infectious diseases, and more. Colorado’s medical research employs over 7,000 Colorado workers and generates more than $1.56 billion for our state’s economy.
“The NIH is the primary source of federal funding for biomedical research in Colorado and the United States. These proposed cuts result in less funding research in Colorado,” continued the lawmakers. “Patients and researchers will experience the most negative consequences.”
In their letter, the lawmakers highlight how President Trump’s proposed cuts would halt cutting-edge research across Colorado, including:
- Efforts at Fort Lewis College to identify new colon and pancreatic cancer treatments;
- National Jewish Health’s leading research into asthma treatment and pulmonary function;
- Research for children with Down Syndrome at Colorado State University;
- Next-generation research at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs into the sequencing of chromosomal interactions; and
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center’s work on type 1 diabetes, breast cancer, and heart disease.
“Biomedical research is the bedrock of how we bring forward and test new scientific discoveries and advance new treatments to dramatically improve care for children and adults. Restricting critical funding would have an immediate and devastating impact, shutting down programs, and potentially jeopardizing lives – setting our country back decades,” said Michael Salem, M.D., President and CEO of National Jewish Health.
The text of the letter is available HERE and below.
Dear Chair Collins, Ranking Member Murray, Chair Cole, and Ranking Member DeLauro,
We write to express our deep concern with the Trump Administration’s recent decision to cut previously-approved and appropriated funding for essential biomedical research awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). We urge you to reiterate and strengthen longstanding bipartisan, bicameral Congressional intent to fully support this critical research funding and maintain the United States’ leadership in innovation in the world.
Federal commitment to cutting edge research in health care results in real medical and scientific advancements which benefits us all. As we see life expectancy fall in this country for the first time in decades, we can’t cut the very funding that supports the research responsible for the drastic improvement in life expectancy due to widespread vaccine adoption and clean drinking water.
In Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), NIH awarded $575 million to researchers across Colorado supporting more than 7,141 jobs across the state. These awards support advancements in the research areas of cancer, substance abuse, infectious diseases, behavioral health, Alzheimer’s disease, and more. The indirect funding that the Administration seeks to cut supports this research, and by funds lab equipment, technology, infrastructure, and utilities.
The NIH is the primary source of federal funding for biomedical research in Colorado and the United States. These proposed cuts result in less funding research in Colorado. The massive, proposed funding limitations would not be able to be absorbed by research institutions or private foundations – the loss in Colorado alone would be more than $90 million annually.
Patients and researchers will experience the most negative consequences. The proposed cuts could reduce important research activity on support for children with Down Syndrome at Colorado State University. They would slow efforts to identify new treatment options for colon and pancreatic cancer at Fort Lewis College. Cuts would harm leading research into asthma treatment and pulmonary function at National Jewish Health. They would hamper next-generation research at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs into the sequencing of chromosomal interactions. And they could halt important work on type 1 diabetes, breast cancer, and heart disease at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center. These are just some examples.
This research is critical for advancing medical breakthroughs, and it provides economic benefits to the entire state. The $575 million in awards to Colorado researchers generated more than $1.56 billion in economic activity. Cutting critical resources for researchers in Colorado will have ripple effects across the state at major employers like academic and health care institutions.
The Colorado Attorney General’s Office joined 21 other states in filing a lawsuit against the Administration to stop this funding cut. On February 10th, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order to prevent this cut from moving forward – for the time being.
In light of the uncertainty ahead for thousands of important research endeavors in Colorado and across the country, we urge you to reverse these cuts and provide clarity and stability for future grant funding to NIH grantees. This will reverse the harm grantees have experienced and free them to get back to focusing on crucial research.
Sincerely,