Congressman Brian Higgins took to the House of Representatives Floor today to call on Congress to prevent the automatic spending cuts that could threaten lifesaving work underway locally and nationally by facilities that receive funding from the National Institutes of Health. Higgins warns going over the fiscal cliff would be devastating to the local economy and result in a huge step backward for critical research happening right here in Western New York.
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Below is the text of Congressman Higgins’ speech as delivered on the House Floor:
Mr. Speaker, History has shown that our nation experiences robust economic growth when we invest in America and the Americans – in education, in scientific research, in roads and bridges.
In order to experience this growth, we cannot allow sequestration to make cuts to medical research. If the looming budget cuts are allowed to occur, my home state of New York could lose more than $131 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health to conduct lifesaving research.
Mr. Speaker, Western New York is home to Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the nation’s first cancer center, home to promising advances in cancer research. It lies along the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, an economic engine for our community. However, in order to achieve medical or economic success, funding must be sustained over the long term.
We should be increasing, not cutting, funding for medical research and I urge this House to reject sequestration for this critical investment.
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