Through grants, groundbreaking research, and job creation, out health research and preparedness agencies play a critical role for New York and the nation.
First, I would like to thank Chairman Kingston and Ranking Member DeLauro for holding today's hearing. I have served on this subcommittee for 20 years, and I always look forward to the testimony regarding advances coming from investments at NIH, CDC, HRSA, AHRQ, and CMS. While it may have been a while since some of your agencies appeared before the subcommittee, I am pleased you are here today.
As we listen to the testimony, I hope that all of the members contemplate the impact to our communities. In New York, NIH annually awards approximately $2 billion in grants. Extramural grants fund groundbreaking research in all of our communities and as Dr. Collins will testify, every $1 of NIH funding generates $2.21 in local economic growth.
In 2011, the CDC obligated more than $473 million in funds to public health initiatives throughout New York, nearly three-quarters of which was for vaccines for children and infectious disease programs. These are vital services that this subcommittee has a responsibility to support.
One of the best ways to illustrate the importance of the work that is led by our witnesses is to examine HIV programs.
• This weekend doctors announced that a two-year-old child born with HIV and treated with antiretroviral drugs in the first days of life no longer has detectible levels of the virus, despite not taking HIV medication for ten months. The two pediatric experts who led the research received funding from NIH.
• Dr. Frieden and I have had numerous conversations about CDC's significant efforts on HIV, both at home and abroad. And he has proudly mentioned CDC's work with NIH on the HPTN 052 study, which found that early HIV treatment can dramatically reduce the risk of an HIV-positive person transmitting the virus to a partner.
• HRSA is another leader through the Ryan White program, which provides medical care, pharmaceuticals, and support services to more than 500,000 Americans living with HIV/AIDS.
• And while AHRQ strives to improve health care for all, CMS provides coverage to tens of thousands of Americans with HIV/AIDS.
Each agency plays an important, but distinct, role in our fight against this terrible disease. These are services that need greater investments, not cuts. This is one of many reasons why I hope my colleagues and I will pass a balanced solution to prevent the full impact of sequestration.
Again, I'd like to thank our witnesses, and I look forward to your testimony.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
