National Institute on Drug Abuse
Director's Report to the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse
September, 1996
Congressional Affairs
Appropriations
The FY 1997 President's request for NIH is $12.406 billion, an increase
of $467 million (or 3.9 percent) over the FY 96 appropriation. Of this,
$310 million is included for construction of the Clinical Research Center
(CRC). The President's request also asks for a consolidated appropriation
for the Office of AIDS Research.
Senate FY 97 NIH Appropriations Hearing
On June 18, 1996, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS,
and Education [Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), Chairman] held a hearing to consider
the President's FY1997 budget request for NIH and the programs and policies
of the agency. In opening remarks, Sen. Specter noted that "few activities
of government provide greater promise for improving the quality, and reducing
the costs, of health care for all Americans than our investment in medical
research supported by the National Institutes of Health..." However,
he noted that last year NIH was singled out for special treatment in the
appropriations process and that he wished that other programs had been treated
as well, and named several. Pointing to the $819 million increase provided
for NIH in the House Subcommittee mark-up for FY 1997, he said that while
the Senate is a great supporter of NIH, he did not want this to turn into
a "bidding war," because "every dollar to NIH comes from
other programs."
Dr. Varmus opened his testimony with a brief statement describing support
for investigator initiated research and the proposed CRC as the agency's
two highest priorities. Among major issues discussed at the hearing were
the importance of sharing of scientific information, mental health coverage
under the health insurance reform bill, and the consolidated AIDS budget.
Noting the differences in the House and Senate perspective on Office of
AIDS Research funding, Sen. Specter asked why it is important to allocate
the funds to OAR and requested that Dr. Varmus provide more information
for the record.
House-Passed Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Appropriations Bill
(HR 3755):
On July 11, 1996, by a vote of 216-209, the House passed the appropriation
bill to fund NIH for FY 97. The House bill includes $12.747 billion for
NIH, $90 million of which is for the new CRC. This is $819 million over
the agency's FY 96 appropriation. For NIDA the House-passed figure is $487.341
million, an increase of $21.016 million over the amount requested and $29.229
million over the comparable 1996 appropriation.
Excerpts from the House Appropriations Committee Report [HRpt
104-659]
For NIDA (in part)
"Neuroscience.--The Committee recognizes that neuroscience research
has fundamentally changed our understanding of addiction and that this understanding
provides the foundation for new kinds of treatments. NIDA has made progress
in identifying the neurobiological bases of addiction, including craving,
which is one of the major factors that can precipitate relapse. NIDA-supported
researchers have also made substantial progress in identifying potential
anti-cocaine medications. NIDA-supported researchers have made great strides
in understanding the brain's opiate system and its role in addiction. The
Committee considers neuroscience research a top priority and encourages
NIDA to continue its research efforts in this area.
"Medication development.--Basic research has now progressed to the
point where at least six molecular targets have been identified, allowing
researchers to strategically focus research on anti-addiction medications.
The Committee urges NIDA to continue research aimed at developing effective
medications for the treatment of addictions, particularly for cocaine. The
Committee is pleased that NIDA has issued a program announcement to encourage
expedited transition of ground-breaking research from advanced preclinical
findings to applied clinical applications. The Committee recognizes this
is a valuable tool in advancing the discovery and development of medications
for cocaine addiction.
"Behavioral science research.--The Committee understands that behavioral
research is important to solving problems of drug abuse and addiction, and
that behavioral interventions are the most frequently administered treatments
for drug addiction in some cases, the only available treatment. The Committee
commends NIDA for its basic and clinical behavioral science activities aimed
at better identifying those at risk for drug abuse and developing effective
approaches for breaking the cycle of addiction. The Committee also encourages
NIDA's HIV/AIDS initiatives because of the increasing link between HIV infection
and drug use and related behaviors.
"Social work research.--The Committee supports NIDA's research on families
and drug abuse, behavioral and psychosocial treatment research and health
services. The Committee also supports NIDA's efforts to increase the number
of social work researchers conducting drug abuse research.
"Information dissemination.--The Committee believes that disseminating
research findings in a timely manner is an important component of the NIH
mission. Therefore, the Committee is pleased to learn of NIDA's "town
meetings" with educators, health care providers, State and local anti-drug
coalitions, and civic organizations to disseminate research findings and
foster information exchange.
AIDS Research (in part)
"The Committee intends that the [NIH] funds allocated for AIDS should
be spent in a manner fully consistent with the AIDS research plan developed
by the Office of AIDS Research and expects the Director of NIH to use the
full authority of his office to ensure that this occurs. The Committee has
provided the Director of the Office of AIDS Research, jointly with the Director
of NIH, transfer authority to reallocate up to three percent of funds designated
for AIDS research among Institutes, subject to normal reprogramming procedures.
The Committee encourages NIH to use this authority whenever it believes
that an adjustment in the allocation of AIDS funding between Institutes
is appropriate to achieve scientific objectives or to facilitate promising
research efforts.
"The Committee wants to make clear that it continues to support the
Office of AIDS Research (OAR), its leadership, and its coordinated budget
planning process and that it expects the individual institutes, centers
and divisions to fully cooperate with OAR's work. The Committee has provided
funding for the OAR within the Office of the Director and intends that the
OAR will maintain its current structure and responsibilities, including
the allocation of an emergency discretionary fund.
"Last year, the number of AIDS cases passed the 500,000 mark. AIDS
is now the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 25 and
44. The disease is spreading most rapidly among African Americans and other
at-risk minority populations, adolescents, and women. Therefore, the Committee
urges the OAR to carefully monitor these changes and ensure that the research
plan includes objectives and strategies to respond to demographic changes
in a timely fashion. NIH is also strongly encouraged to strengthen and to
include the direct participation of African Americans and other minorities
in its AIDS/HIV research, research training, and outreach activities. The
Committee expects the NIH to report on its progress in achieving this objective
during next year's appropriations hearings.
Third Party Payments
"... NIH is authorized to collect third party payments for the
cost of clinical services that are incurred in National Institutes of Health
research facilities and that such payments shall be credited to the National
Institutes of Health Management Fund: ... all funds credited to the NIH
Management Fund shall remain available for one fiscal year after the fiscal
year in which they are deposited...
Forward Funding for R29s and R01s
"Opportunities for new investigators.--The Committee understands that
NIH would intend to use a portion of the funding increase to provide forward
funding for a select group of first-time applicants for investigator-initiated
research project grants (R-29s) and first-time R01 investigators. In the
case of R-29 awards, the full five years of support would be provided; first-time
R01 awards would be provided the recommended period of support. The Committee
applauds NIH's plan, recognizing that it would provide a much-needed boost
to the next generation of researchers, who face daunting competition for
research funding. It would also insulate them from year-to-year fluctuations
in grant support. The Committee will watch this experiment with interest
to see if it has broader applicability for other components of the grant
pool."
FY 97 Budget Resolution [HJRES 178]
The House and Senate agreed to HConRes 178, the FY 1997 federal budget,
on June 7. The conference report [HRpt. 104-612] recommends maintenance
of the 1996 increases in funding for NIH and assumes priority funding the
agency at $11.95 billion in budget authority. Included under Section 431
is a sense of the Senate that "amounts appropriated for the NIH should
provide funding for additional research on an anti-addiction drug to block
the craving for illicit addictive substances."
NIH Revitalization Act of 1996
On July 17, 1996, the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee marked
up and approved, as amended, S. 1897, the NIH Revitalization Act of 1996
(with all Committee members voting in the affirmative). Several amendments
were approved by voice vote by the Committee, including an amendment to
establish a pediatric research initiative (Sens. DeWine and Kennedy); one
which would increase diabetes related research (Sen. Simon) and a program
for research and training relating to Parkinson's disease (Sen. Wellstone).
An amendment offered by Sen. Faircloth (for himself and Sen. Harkin) was
not voted on by the Committee. It would have required the Secretary to establish
a National Center for Pain Research in NIH. Sen. Kassebaum expressed concern
about the wording of the amendment and agreed to work with Sen. Faircloth
on the appropriate language before the legislation is brought to the Senate
floor for a vote. One day earlier, on July 16, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) had
introduced S. 1955 to establish a National Center for Pain Research in NIH.
SAMHSA Reauthorization
H.R. 3847, the Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Consolidation and Reorganization
Act, was introduced on July 18 by Representative Joe Barton (R-TX) to consolidate
and reorganize SAMHSA. It would create a new Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Administration which would be headed by an Administrator to be appointed
by the President with the consent of the Senate. The DHHS Secretary would
have the authority to appoint an Associate Administrator for Substance Abuse
Prevention and an Associate Administrator for Substance Abuse Treatment.
The new agency would be authorized an appropriation of "such sums as
may be necessary" for fiscal years 1996 through 2002. Any programs
not transferred to this new agency would be transferred to HRSA.
Other Bills of Interest
Health Insurance Reform Becomes Law
HR 3103 - The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
On August 1, the House agreed to the conference report (HRpt 104-736) and
sent the measure to the Senate. On August 2, the Senate agreed to the conference
report, clearing the measure for the President, who signed the bill into
law on August 21. Among other things, the legislation provides for increased
portability of group health plans; genetic information will not be considered
a preexisting condition in the absence of a diagnosis of the conditions
related to such information; and discrimination against participants and
beneficiaries based on health status are prohibited.
Welfare Reform Becomes Law
The House and Senate agreed to the conference report on the Welfare Reform
legislation, H.R. 3734. The President signed the bill August 22. The bill
includes a provision making individuals convicted of a drug-related felony
ineligible for AFDC and food stamps. No other public benefits would be denied
and pregnant women and individuals in treatment would remain eligible for
these benefits but would lose eligibility after giving birth or leaving
treatment. Family members of those denied benefits would still receive their
AFDC and food stamp allocations. States could exempt those effected by the
law by passing State legislation.
In the first session of the 104th Congress, an early version of welfare
reform legislation [H.R. 4] included language which would have provided
authorization of appropriations specifically for NIDA's medications development
activities and for SAMHSA's substance abuse block grant. This provision
was dropped in later versions of the bill, but a portion of the language
was swept into P.L. 104-121, Senior Citizens Right to Work Act, which includes
an authorization of appropriations for an additional $50 million for SAMHSA's
Substance Abuse Block Grant.
Mental Health Parity
The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996, S.2031, was introduced by Sen. Pete
Domenici (R-NM) on August 2. The purpose of the bill is to provide health
plan protection for individuals with mental illnesses. Specifically, the
legislation would provide parity for lifetime and annual financial caps
for mental health insurance coverage. Similar language in the health insurance
reform legislation was dropped before final passage.
Animal Research
The animal rights community observed June 18 - 24 "World Animal Awareness
Week." Related to preparations for the week, there were several bills
introduced in the Congress on issues ranging from "family pet protection"
to "consumer products testing," in addition to a number of other
bills relating to primate research facilities and other matters related
to research animals that came before the Congress for other reasons. The
future for most of these animal welfare bills is uncertain. Recent animal
welfare bills include S. 1477, "FDA Performance and Accountability
Act," introduced by Sen. Kassebaum (R-KS) Chair, Senate Labor and Human
Resources Committee, on December 13, 1995. The bill was passed by the Senate
on June 20, 1996. Another recently introduced bill is H.R. 3393, "Animal
Welfare Act, Amendment (Family Pet Protection Act of 1996)" introduced
by Rep. Fox (R-PA) on May 7. Provisions of the bill would ban research facilities
from obtaining dogs or cats from dealers who do not breed and raise animals
themselves, and implement strong requirements that would effectively restrict
research facilities from obtaining unwanted municipal pound animals. It
would also disallow private animal shelters from voluntarily making animals
available for research and limit individuals to donating no more than one
animal to a research facility. On the same day Rep. Canady (R-FL) introduced
his version of a pet theft bill, H.R. 3398, "Animal Welfare Act, Amendment."
In addition, two draft bills have brought special attention. First, the
Department of Agriculture prepared a draft bill amending the Animal Welfare
Act. Among other provisions, this proposal would place greater restrictions
on the sale and purchase of research animals by laboratories and research
institutions. Second, the "National Chimpanzee Sanctuary Act,"
has been circulating among some Congressional offices. The purpose of this
bill is to provide a national retirement sanctuary for chimpanzees that
will assure long-term care for chimpanzees currently housed in laboratories
and other facilities.
Methamphetamine
On July 17, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduced S. 1965, the Comprehensive
Methamphetamine Control Act of 1996. The purpose of the Hatch bill is to
crack down on precursor chemicals while balancing the need to maintain availability
of drugs such as pseudoephedrine for legitimate purposes. Sen. Hatch said
he remains unconvinced that legitimate products purchased at the retail
level are a significant source of precursor drugs for the manufacture of
methamphetamine. He included several provisions to limit the potential diversion
of legitimate products at the retail level to methamphetamine labs and said
that he will monitor the situation very closely. If the data show that retail
products containing pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine are contributing
to the problem of methamphetamine abuse, he said he will revisit the issue
in the 105th Congress. Earlier this session, Sens. Grassley (R-IA) and Feinstein
(D-CA) introduced S. 1607, the Methamphetamine Control Act of 1996, for
similar purposes.
For additional information about NIDA send e-mail to Information@nida.nih.gov
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