NIH Appropriation in H.R. 1 Conference Report

February 14, 2009 at 8:41 am · Filed under Research News

Full conference report available via the GPO (NIH discussed in 3 of 5):

National Institutes of Health

The conference agreement provides $10,000,000,000 for the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) as proposed by the Senate
instead of $3,500,000,000 as proposed by the House. The
components of this total are as follows:

NATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH RESOURCES

The conference agreement includes $1,300,000,000 for the
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) instead of
$1,500,000,000 as proposed by the House and $300,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Bill language identifies
$1,000,000,000 of this total for competitive awards for the
construction and renovation of extramural research
facilities. The conference agreement also provides
$300,000,000 for the acquisition of shared instrumentation
and other capital research equipment. The conference
agreement includes bill language proposed by the House for
extramural facilities relating to waiver of non-Federal match
requirements, primate centers, and limitation on the term of
Federal interest. The conference agreement includes language
proposed by the House mandating several reporting
requirements on the use of the funds. The conferees expect
that NCRR will give priority to those applications that are
expected to generate demonstrable energy-saving or beneficial
environmental effects.

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The conference agreement provides $8,200,000,000 for the
Office of the Director instead of $1,500,000,000 as proposed
by the House and $9,200,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. Of
this amount, $7,400,000,000 is designated for transfer to
Institutes and Centers and to the Common Fund instead of
$7,850,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference
agreement adopts the Senate guidance that, to the extent
possible, the $800,000,000 retained in the Office of the
Director shall be used for purposes that can be completed
within two years; priority shall be placed on short-term
grants that focus on specific scientific challenges, new
research that expands the scope of ongoing projects, and
research on public and international health priorities. Bill
language is included to permit the Director of NIH to use
$400,000,000 of the funds provided in this account for the
flexible research authority authorized in section 215 of
Division G of P.L. 110-161.

The funds available to NIH can be used to enhance central
research support activities, such as equipment for the
clinical center or intramural activities, centralized
information support systems, and other related activities as
determined by the Director. The conferees intend that NIH
take advantage of scientific opportunities using any funding
mechanisms and authorities at the agency’s disposal that
maximize scientific and health benefit. The conferees include
bill language indicating that the funds provided in this Act
to NIH are not subject to Small Business Innovation Research
and Small Business Technology Transfer set-aside
requirements.

BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

The conference agreement provides $500,000,000 for
Buildings and Facilities as proposed by the House and the
Senate. Bill language permits funding to be used for
construction as well as renovation, as proposed by the
Senate. The House language permitted only renovation. These
funds are to be used to construct, improve, and repair NIH
buildings and facilities, including projects identified in
the Master Plan for Building 10.

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