1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

The administration's severe cuts to funding and staff at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will end America's leadership in biomedical research and innovation. NIH grants have driven groundbreaking therapies from cancer immunotherapies to drugs for autoimmune diseases that have saved countless lives. This short-sighted policy based on unsubstantiated claims of "waste, fraud, and abuse" will cripple research capabilities, shutter laboratories, and cause a brain drain as top scientists leave for other countries. Ohio alone stands to lose over $1 billion in NIH funding supporting 12,000 jobs. We cannot afford to fall behind global competitors in developing life-saving treatments and cures. I urge you to reverse course on these reckless cuts that will devastate American biomedical research for decades to come. The relatively modest NIH budget is an exceptional investment, generating $2.50 in economic growth for every $1 spent while advancing vital medical breakthroughs. Increasing NIH funding would accelerate the development of new drugs and therapies that could one day treat or cure diseases impacting your own constituents and loved ones. Maintaining robust support for the NIH is vital for public health, economic growth, and upholding America's innovative edge.