FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2019

CONTACT: James F. Jorkasky Executive Director 240-221-2905 jamesj@eyeresearch.org

NAEVR COMMENDS HOUSE LHHS SUBCOMMITTEE FOR MARKING UP AN FY2020 SPENDING BILL WITH ROBUST NIH/NEI INCREASES

(Washington, D.C.) Today, the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR) issued a statement about the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee's April 30 markup of a Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 spending bill that includes a $2 billion, or a 5.1 percent increase over FY2019, in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding to a level of $41.08 billion and a $39 million, or a 5 percent increase over FY2019, in National Eye Institute (NEI) funding to a level of $835.5 million.

NAEVR Executive Director James Jorkasky stated:

"NAEVR commends the House LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee for its approval of an FY2020 spending bill with robust NIH and NEI spending increases which, if passed, would reflect the fifth year of such increases.

This bill recognizes the importance of funding the important work of the Institutes and Centers (I/Cs), such as the NEI, in addition to the special initiatives mandated by the 21st Century Cures Act. The proposed 5 percent NEI increase would continue to rebuild its budget and restore its purchasing power, which had been eroded by flat budgets and lack of inflationary increases prior to the increases in fiscal years 2016 through 2019.

This year, the Subcommittee has led with the LHHS bill, noting the importance of its programs for all Americans. NAEVR is grateful to Subcommittee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Ranking Member Tom Cole (R-OK) for their leadership and recognition of the value of medical research. However, the appropriations process is just getting underway and NAEVR has urged Congress to pass a bipartisan budget deal that would raise discretionary spending caps that would facilitate these funding increases. NAEVR will continue to work with both chambers toward this goal."”

At its May 8 markup, the House Appropriations Committee is expected to consider the FY2020 LHHS spending bill, as well as to formally adopt the funding allocations for the bills developed by its 12 Subcommittees.

The National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR) is a 501(c)4 non-profit advocacy coalition comprised of 55 professional, consumer, and industry organizations involved in eye and vision research. Visit the Web site at www.eyeresearch.org.