NY Dem warns sequester will crush hope of medical breakthroughs

Maloney was speaking at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, along with several members of New York’s state legislature. A statement released by her office said the sequester could mean a $2.5 billion cut to the National Institutes of Health, and a $167 million cut in New York state.

{mosads}Her statement said more than 80 percent of the NIH budget is spent on researchers in universities and research institutions around the country.

Maloney is one of several House Democrats who were calling on Congress to find a way around the $85 billion sequester, which will affect defense and non-defense discretionary spending. Without action, the cuts take place March 1.

The Obama administration late Sunday released a report on how the sequester will affect each state, which prompted some members to renew their calls for a replacement.

For example, Reps. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) and Joe Garcia (D-Fla.) said the threat of 80,000 Florida teachers, first responders and others losing their jobs shows that both parties must find some way around the cuts.

“It’s time for Congress to come together, stop the sequestration, focus on getting more people back to work and implement a long-term balanced approach to reducing our national debt,” Frankel said Monday.

“It’s time that Washington politicians put partisanship aside, come together and compromise in order to avert the harmful impact that South Florida’s families will feel as a result of these sequestration cuts,” Garcia added Monday.

But House Republicans appear unlikely to consider any Democratic plan that includes new tax increases, including one that could pass the Senate this week. The GOP continues to say that Senate Democrats need to pass a replacement plan that can pass the House.