Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to lead the world in biomedical research.

Bill Number

H.Res. 601

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-23: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2025-09-09T15:18:14Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This House Resolution (H. Res. 601) expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Government has a duty to lead globally in biomedical research. It highlights the historical success of federal funding for scientific inquiry, particularly through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and urges protection and expansion of this effort to address public health challenges.

Key Provisions

The resolution includes a series of "whereas" clauses detailing the achievements of federal biomedical research and criticisms of actions by the Trump administration that allegedly undermined it. It then resolves that:

• Biomedical research and development capacity is a national asset to be protected, improved, and expanded.
• Federal efforts via the NIH support U.S. leadership in biomedical innovation.
• The biomedical research workforce, including NIH public servants, deserves respect, fair pay, and benefits.
• Public health protection requires whole-of-government collaboration starting with research.
• Federal support is essential for training scientists, retaining talent in the U.S., building a committed scientific community, and ensuring stable funding free from political interference.
• Scientific decisions should be evidence-based, peer-reviewed, and protected from politics.
• Over the next decade, the Federal Government should double its investment in biomedical research and apply findings to medical practice.
• Federal investments should prioritize:
• Basic research on human biology and disease causes.
• Translational science for faster access to treatments.
• High-risk, high-reward projects.
• Collaborative resources and knowledge sharing.
• Dual goals of advancing science and building research capacity.
• Transparency, accountability, and replicability.
• Innovations to prevent, treat, or cure diseases and reduce health care costs.
• Integrating research into clinical practice through partnerships.
• Federal policy should fund research to improve quality of life, including reversing life expectancy declines, combating microbial threats, addressing neurodegenerative diseases, reducing cancer and Alzheimer's burdens, eliminating transplant waitlist deaths, preventing diabetes, lowering cardiovascular deaths, developing therapies for rare diseases and infections, creating vaccines for underserved diseases (e.g., malaria), and improving clinical trial diversity.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This is a non-binding resolution expressing the House's opinion; it does not amend or enact any laws. It has no direct legal effect but could influence future appropriations or policy debates.

Potential Impacts

• Government agencies: May pressure agencies like the NIH and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to prioritize research funding stability and independence, potentially leading to increased budgets and protections against political interference.
• Citizens: Could accelerate advancements in treatments for chronic diseases (e.g., cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's), infections, and rare conditions, improving health outcomes and reducing health care costs for the 60% of Americans with chronic illnesses.
• International relations: Reinforces U.S. leadership in global health innovation, potentially countering efforts by other nations to attract U.S. scientists and fostering international collaborations on vaccines and disease research.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal agencies and employees: NIH, HHS, and research staff, who benefit from calls for job security and doubled funding.
• Researchers and academia: Scientists, universities, and training programs reliant on federal grants.
• Industry and private sector: Pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms that partner with or build on NIH-funded basic research.
• Patients and citizens: Individuals with chronic diseases, rare conditions, or facing public health threats (e.g., aging population, antibiotic resistance), who stand to gain from new treatments and preventive measures.
• Broader society: Taxpayers funding research, with economic returns from innovations like the Human Genome Project.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Emphasizes peer-reviewed, evidence-based decision-making to maintain scientific integrity, potentially setting a congressional expectation for insulating agencies from executive overreach (e.g., grant freezes or staff firings).
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to appropriate funds and promote general welfare (Article I, Section 8), reinforcing federal investment in public health as a core government role without mandating action.
• Political: Critiques specific past administration actions (e.g., funding cuts, personnel changes), which could fuel partisan debates on science policy; as a "sense of the House" measure, it signals priorities for future legislation or oversight without binding force.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-23: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-07-23: Submitted in House
• 2025-07-23: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to lead the world in biomedical research. — issued 2025-07-23 — PDF (11 pages)