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UMR Recognizes Retiring Senator Roy Blunt

January 4, 2023

 

United for Medical Research Recognizes Senator Roy Blunt for Strengthening the NIH Budget and Saving and Improving Lives Through Research

JAN. 4, 2023 (WASHINGTON) – This week, United for Medical Research (UMR) is running a full-page ad in the Springfield News-Leader thanking recently retired Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) for his efforts to save and improve lives through biomedical research. During his eight years as the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, Senator Blunt secured eight consecutive increases to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget. The eighth increase was contained in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which passed Dec. 23rd just as Senator Blunt left Congress.

“Senator Blunt keenly understands the power of research to save and transform lives affected by disease and, whether as Chair or Ranking Member of the subcommittee, he used his passion and influence to lead his colleagues in prioritizing NIH funding,” said UMR President Chris Austin. “Senator Blunt will have a long-lasting imprint on medical research and innovation.”

Over the course of his leadership tenure on the appropriations subcommittee, Senator Blunt oversaw a 57 percent increase in NIH funding. The research funded by these increases will benefit Missourians and people the world over. His advocacy has additionally had a significant economic impact. While the mission of the NIH is to improve health, the research funding awarded through the NIH helps drive the economy. In Fiscal Year 2021, NIH research funding supported 552,444 jobs and drove $94.18 billion in economic activity. Funding to researchers in Missouri supported 10,916 jobs and generated nearly $786 million in economic activity.

“Senator Blunt, along with subcommittee Chair Patty Murray and their counterparts in the House, Representatives Rosa DeLauro and Tom Cole, has helped put the NIH back on a sustainable growth path after many years of stagnant funding. The patients, researchers and biomedical innovators represented by UMR’s member organizations are tremendously grateful to Senator Blunt for his leading role in changing the trajectory of NIH funding,” Austin said.

UMR’s ad is running in the Springfield News-Leader Jan. 2, 5 and 8. You can view the ad here.

United for Medical Research is a coalition of leading research institutions, patient and health advocates and private industry seeking steady and sustainable increases in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to save and improve lives, advance innovation and fuel the economy.