Dick Durbin: “I thank Senator Reed for his comments in support of my amendment. This is about medical research, and if I have a…”

“I thank Senator Reed for his comments in support of my amendment. This is about medical research, and if I have a passion for the subject, I do. Certainly, I believe most of us do. There comes a point in your life where you get a diagnosis or news about someone you love, and you pray to goodness that there has been some research to develop a drug or a procedure or a device which gives them a chance for life. Do I want to invest more money in medical research so that there are more chances for life? You bet I do. And I believe our highest priority should be the men and women in uniform and their families and our veterans. That is why I will stand here today and defend this Department of Defense medical research program for as long as I have breath in my lungs. I believe it is essential that once we have made the promise to men and women in uniform, we stand by them and we keep our word, and our word means standing by medical research. Some have made light of issues being investigated under medical research--not anyone on the floor today, but others. Prostate cancer. What are they doing investigating prostate cancer at the Department of Defense? Servicemembers are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as those who don't serve in the military. Why? I don't know the answer. Is it worth the research to answer that question? Of course it is. Alzheimer's and Department of Defense medical research.…”