Rep. Sherrill’s Bill to Invest $10 Billion in Biomedical Research Included in Lower Drug Costs Now Act

Washington, DC — Representative Sherrill announced today that her Biomedical Innovation Expansion Act of 2019 (H.R. 4667) will be included in the House’s landmark Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019 (H.R. 3). Representative Sherrill’s bill, co-sponsored by Representatives Mike Levin (CA-49) and Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), invests $10 billion over the next ten years in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to provide support for scientific research related to antibiotic resistance, cancer, and rare diseases. Savings from H.R. 3 will be used to fund this $10 billion investment.

“The biopharmaceutical industry in New Jersey has contributed some of the most significant medical innovations in our history, and drives breakthrough treatments in areas like rare diseases,” said Representative Sherrill. “Including this legislation in H.R. 3 is a recognition of the importance of biomedical research and a critical investment in our future. Our bill invests $10 billion in savings from H.R. 3 back into the National Institutes of Health and the biomedical innovation ecosystem, so we can continue to develop life-saving treatments that help Americans.”

“The Southern California communities I represent are home to some of the world’s foremost biomedical research institutions, which work to improve the quality of life for people across the country,” said Representative Levin. “This legislation recognizes our moral imperative to make robust investments in medical research to develop cures and save lives, and I am thrilled to see it included in the Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019.”

“For decades, the dedicated researchers at the NIH have been responsible for lifesaving discoveries that have put Central Virginians on a path toward healthier, longer, and happier lives,” said Representative Spanberger. “To make sure these teams can continue their record of success, we need to give them the tools to fight back against rare diseases, prevent antibiotic resistance, and eventually find a cure for cancer. I’m proud to see our provision included as part of H.R. 3, because support for the cutting-edge research of today is a smart investment in the treatments and cures of tomorrow.”

Representative Sherrill’s bill invests $10 billion over ten years in the National Institutes of Health as a catalyst for medical cures and scientific breakthroughs. The original language of Representative Sherrill’s bill included:

• Roughly $3 billion for the Precision Medicine Initiative, which includes the ambitious All of Us Research Program aimed at building a diverse database to inform thousands of studies on a variety of health conditions as an important way to accelerate health research;
• Over $2.9 billion for the Brain Research Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative and its goals set out in BRAIN 2025: A Scientific Vision, including the broad goal of gaining insight into how the nervous system functions in health and disease;
• More than $1.6 billion towards combating antimicrobial and antibiotic resistance, which the World Health Organization warns is one of the top ten threats to global health;
• $1.5 billion for the Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot to continue to accelerate cancer research for more patients in need;
• $758 million to support research on the several thousands of rare diseases without a treatment; and
• $220 million toward the Regenerative Medicine Innovation Project carried out in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration to advance the development of safe and effective regenerative medicine innovations using adult stem cells.

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