NIH Reauthorization Passed in Final Hours of 109th Congress
H.R. 6164, “The National Institutes of Health Reform Act of 2006,” surprised many Capitol Hill observers when it passed in the final hours of the Congressional session after intense negotiations between the House and Senate. Among its components, the final legislation provides for:
- NIH funding levels authorized at $30.331 billion for FY 07, $32.831 billion for FY 08, and “such sums as may be necessary” for FY 09. These amounts would allow for increases of approximately 7 percent in 2007 and 8 percent in 2008.
- A Common Fund for research to be established by the director and funded by a reserve account from Congressional appropriations.
- New authorities and responsibilities for the NIH director enhancing the director’s ability to set an agenda for the NIH across the institutes.
- Program coordination across institutes and centers, overseen by the NIH director in consultation with institute directors, to review priorities, create balance, avoid duplication, and foster collaboration and cross-cutting research.
- Authority of the NIH director to transfer up to1 percent of total NIH funding for trans-NIH research initiatives.
- A new electronic coding system for research grants and activities.
- Revised reporting requirements designed to foster interagency collaboration, prevent fraud and abuse, and monitor institutions receiving training awards for graduate students pursuing doctoral degrees, among other things.
The legislation was sent to the president Jan. 3 for his signature. As of press time, the president was expected to sign it.