Jamie Barrand | Oct 26, 2015

Congress urged to back responsible funding for medical research and national security

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), National Defense Industrial Association, Research! America and United for Medical Research sent a joint letter to Congress on Wednesday in a effort to encourage House and Senate members to pull together to advance responsible funding for medical research priorities and national security.

“We must base spending priorities on current and future threats and opportunities, or American security, prosperity and global leadership will be compromised," the letter said. "Among these priorities are preserving global stability, defending our homeland and fighting diseases that rob Americans of life, health, independence and time.”

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network President Chris Hansen pointed out that the health of the nation's citizens and economy depends on medical research. 

“To truly gain control over federal health spending, we must prevent and stop the diseases that engender it. We need more medical research,” he said.

The aerospace and defense industry provides the equipment that keeps our economy moving and protects our warfighters in harm’s way, AIA President and CEO David Melcher said.

“That is why the Federal Reserve’s recent revision downward of U.S. annual industrial production, based on a deeper than previously reported downturn in the output of defense and space equipment, is both relevant and alarming," Melcher said.

The full text of the letter can be accessed online at http://bit.ly/1hTmwap.

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