Editors:
As Congress works on the 2013 budget and the threat of sequestration looms, I urge Rep. Henry Waxman and Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein to continue fighting to protect biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Sequestration could result in an 8 percent cut to the NIH budget, which means 25 percent of the grants that NIH issues in 2013 would not be funded. I am an advocate for Parkinson's disease patients and these cuts would be devastating to the community I serve. NIH needs at least $32 billion in FY 2013 to continue research toward much-needed treatments for people with Parkinson's and other chronic diseases.
In addition, these cuts put research jobs at risk; California could lose up to 4,930 jobs and $275.8 million in research funds, which could have a devastating impact on the state's economy.
NIH research funding is an investment in our country's future. I ask you to urge your representatives to oppose cuts to biomedical research at the NIH.
Sarah King
State director — Southern California, The Parkinson's Action Network
