Tom Harkin: “Quite frankly, to this Senator, every single penny we put into NIH is an emergency. If you do not believe me, go out and…”

“Quite frankly, to this Senator, every single penny we put into NIH is an emergency. If you do not believe me, go out and talk to a family with a child that just came down with juvenile diabetes and see if you do not think what we spend at NIH is an emergency. Talk to a woman who has just discovered she has breast cancer and is facing an uncertain future. Tell her that funding of NIH is not an emergency. Talk to someone who has suffered an injury who is now quadriplegic. They are looking for help to once again be whole again through some of the great research being done through NIH. Tell them this is not an emergency. Go out and talk to a family who has a loved one who has just come down with Alzheimer's disease not knowing what the future is going to be. A mother, father, grandparents, looking forward to the debilitating effects of Alzheimer's disease. Tell them that funding for NIH is not an emergency. Whether or not this is an emergency is in the eye of the beholder. Think of the millions of Americans who have been afflicted with illness, disease, and injury who look to NIH for the treatments and cures; think about whether or not every single penny we spend on NIH is an emergency.”