House committee Recommends Budget Increases for NIH, NCI

WASHINGTON--In a surprise move, the House Labor, HHS and EducationSubcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee voted to increaseNIH funding by about $642 million for FY 1996. NCI's 1996 budgetof $2.25 billion represents a $31 million increase over the currentbudget.

To support these increases, the subcommittee recommended cutsin other health, labor and education programs.

The Appropriations Committee believes that NIH should allocatefunds on the basis of scientific opportunity; thus there are noearmarks by disease or research mechanism, and no separate fundingfor the Office of AIDS Research. No further funds are providedto support the NCI study of tobacco industry campaign contributionsto state legislators.