American Heart Association Applauds Senate Approp. Cmte's Approval of HHS Budget for FY 2003, Urges Increases For Heart, Stroke Research

7/19/2002

From: Eric Bolton or Kelly Kennai of the American Heart Association, 202-785-7900

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- The American Heart Association today congratulated the Senate Appropriations Committee for its unanimous approval yesterday of a $136.4 billion Labor-Health and Human Services-Education appropriations bill for FY 2003, which includes $27.2 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The measure, which now goes to the full Senate for a final vote, provides a $3.7 billion increase in the NIH budget for the coming fiscal year -- successfully capping a five-year effort to double the health agency's budget.

Committee appropriators also approved $12.5 million to assist rural areas of the country to purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and train law enforcement officers, fire fighters and other "emergency first responders" in their use. The rural AED appropriation, strongly advocated by the association, is a $10 million increase over the money requested for the program under the President's budget.

In addition to approving a $27.2 billion budget for NIH, the committee restored $619 million to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which had been cut as part of the President's budget. Of specific interest to the American Heart Association, the committee appropriated $47.2 million for CDC's Cardiovascular Health State Program and the Paul Coverdell Stroke Registry, named for the Georgia senator who died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 2000. Also, the committee appropriated $50.6 million for CDC's Division of Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity, and over $100 million to fund the agency's tobacco control efforts. All told, the committee's recommended appropriation for CDC brings the agency's budget to over $4.5 billion for FY 2003.

The committee also appropriated $70 million for the Education Department's Physical Education for Progress (PEP) program, an increase of $20 million over FY 2002. The PEP program encourages schools to develop and offer physical education programs and activities.

"We are extremely pleased that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved this important appropriations measure, leaving Congress poised to fulfill the promise of doubling the NIH budget by the target year of FY 2003," said Craig T. Beam, chairman of the board for the American Heart Association.

"We are also delighted that some of the Administration's proposed funding cuts for the CDC have been restored, that the PEP program has been increased, and that funding for rural AEDs has been restored to the level authorized by the Rural AED Act of 2000," Beam added. He urged the full Senate to approve the entire appropriations measure as quickly as possible.

However, Beam noted that the association remains concerned that the funding for heart and stroke research and related programs at NIH has not kept pace with the overall doubling initiative.

"We are asking that funding for heart and stroke research and related activities also be at least doubled throughout NIH, to keep on track with the doubling of the agency's budget," Beam said. He added that doubling the funding for federal heart and stroke research and related activities by FY 2003 is essential, given the enormous economic burden these diseases impose on the nation.

"This year alone, cardiovascular diseases of all types will cost America approximately $330 billion in medical care and lost productivity-more than any other disease. Heart disease by itself will cost $214 billion, stroke approximately $50 billion," Beam said. He added, "Despite these costs, research for heart disease currently receives only 8 percent of the NIH budget, while stroke research receives only 1 percent."

He also noted that an increase in cardiovascular research dollars is essential if the nation is to take full advantage of the research opportunities currently available to advance the state of medical treatment for these diseases.

(Note to Editors/Reporters -- A chart showing selected appropriations for heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee on July 18, follows this release below.)

Table 1: Senate Appropriations Committee, Cardiovascular Health and Related Spending Recommendations, July 18, 2002

AGENCY, FY 2002 FUNDING, PRESIDENT'S FY 2003 BUDGET, SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- Overall NIH, $23.45 Billion, $27.17 Billion, $27.19 Billion -- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), $2.58 Billion, $2.78 Billion, $2.82 Billion -- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), $1.31 Billion, $1.42 Billion, $1.47 Billion

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) -- Cardiovasular Health State Program/Paul Coverdell Stroke Registry, $37.4 Million, $37.2 Million, $47.2 Million -- Tobacco Control, $101.1 Million, $100.6 Million, $100.6 Million -- Physical Activity, Nutrition, & Obesity, $27.5 Million, $27.4 Million, $50.6 Million -- Youth Media Campaign, $68.4 Million, $0, $40 Million

Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) -- Rural Access to Emergency Devices, $12.5 Million, $2 Million, $12.5 Million

Department of Education -- Physical Education for Progress, $50 Million, $0, $70 Million