We are taking up the bill to change the authority of the Attorney General to replace U.S. attorneys on an indefinite basis, which has caused a lot of controversy.

Senator Harkin and I have taken the lead, as is fairly well known, in increasing the funding for NIH from $12 billion to almost $30 billion.

It is simply unacceptable to have a $500+ million cut in NIH funding, as proposed by the administration this year.

NIH has researched and found treatments for various strains of cancer, isn't that correct?

Well, that's why I'm asking you, Dr. Zerhouni.

Last year, we increased the budget for the subcommittee by $7 billion.

I hear a lot of people--and a lot of my friends are dying of cancer--and I know a lot of people with heart conditions.

Health is our most important capital asset. Without health, there is nothing any of us can do.

We, regrettably, cannot use Federal funding on stem cell research, except for a few lines, which were available back on August 9, 2001.

You have two strong allies in Senator Harkin and myself, Dr. Zerhouni, and you have the potential to have 533 more if there's sufficient political pressure brought to bear on Washington, DC.

Attitudes are changed in Washington, with political pressure.

Elimination of disease, and the suffering that goes with it, ought to be our primary concern.

So, it is the NIH research which has identified a way for early screening to treat cancer at an early stage.

Dr. Zerhouni, as you have testified, the deaths due to cancer have declined in the last 2 years.

Mr. Chairman, we have, on the floor at the moment, the legislation involving the U.S. attorneys who have been asked to resign.

Health is our principal capital asset and the work which has been done by NIH has been truly spectacular.

Speaking of OSHA, why is the administration proposing to eliminate the $10 million OSHA program for worker training and education?

Senator Harkin and I, and this committee--and I think, really, the whole Congress--are determined to increase funding so we can find an answer to autism.