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# HELP Democrats Introduce Research Funding Bill
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/help-democrats-introduce-research-funding-bill/
- Published: 2016-03-03T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T02:40:24.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5134951

> Senate Democrats on the HELP Committee have introduced the National Biomedical Research Act to increase funding for targeted biomedical initiatives through a new, reliable funding stream supporting FDA and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A [statement](http://www.warren.senate.gov/?p=press%5Frelease&id=1075&ref=fdaweb.com) issued by the senators (contains link to bill text) says that the NIH purchasing power “has been cut by Congress for more than a decade” and says that the funding boost would help restore the NIH budget to the 2006 levels, adjusted for biomedical inflation.  
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> The bill would create a Biomedical Innovation Fund designed specifically to provide predictable investments in life-saving biomedical research conducted by leading scientists at the nation’s top research institutions. The senators say that the funding would support specific initiatives such as Vice President **Joe Biden**’s National Cancer Moonshot initiative, the Precision Medicine initiative, grants for young emerging scientists, and other breakthrough research that will help accelerate the development and approval of new medicines, improve prevention, and increase understanding of life-threatening diseases.  
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> “Right now,” the senators say, “NIH rejects nine of 11 grant proposals, one of the highest rejection rates in history and far below the 1/3 rate called for by agency leaders, because of a lack of resources. Predictability of funding for biomedical research will create stability for researchers and accelerate the pace of scientific advancements.”