Cord Byrd: “first, I commend Senator Harkin for his skillful management of this bill. The Labor, HHS, and Education bill requires…”

“first, I commend Senator Harkin for his skillful management of this bill. The Labor, HHS, and Education bill requires tough--did you hear me say that word, tough?--tradeoffs between critical programs that serve our Nation well. I thank Senator Specter for his many contributions to this legislation, which is bipartisan, and I urge Senators to vote no on the motion to commit the bill to the committee for the purpose of reducing the bill to the President's request. Hear me now. Hear me now. Listen. I am going to pose a question. You will have an opportunity to answer it. If such a motion to commit were approved, the bill would need to be reduced by $9 billion. To any Senator who intends to vote for the motion to commit so as to reduce the bill by $9 billion, I ask: What programs would you cut? The President proposes to cut National Institutes of Health funding by $279 million for studying cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Under the President's budget, the National Institutes of Health would have to eliminate 717 research grants that could lead to cures or treatments for cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and other diseases. Should we reduce funding for the National Institutes of Health? How about it? Do I hear a response? Ask yourself before you vote: Where would you cut? Where would you cut?”