In what has to be considered good news and an important step, the U.S. House Labor, Health and Human Services (Labor-HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee this week proposed a $300 million increase for Alzheimer’s research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). If this historic step increase becomes law, it will be the largest annual increase ever in federal Alzheimer’s research funding. And it is not a minute too soon.
Credit for this sorely needed proposed increase in funding goes to the Alzheimer’s Association, the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) and advocates across the country. Back in March more than 1,000 advocated went to Washington to ask for the $300 million increase. Some of them testified about this critical need to members of the subcommittee.
While this is a significant first step, it is part of a year-long appropriations process that will only end successfully with a bill passed by Congress and signed into law. So advocacy must continue.