On the recordMarch 9, 2016
having followed my friend and colleague from Tennessee, Senator Alexander has spelled out an exciting possibility, and I know it won't be easy. It is a heavy political lift. But what he is talking about is coming up with a dramatic commitment of funds for medical research for the next 8, 9, or 10 years, over and above the ordinary budget of the National Institutes of Health. We have sat down and talked about this several times, and I wholeheartedly endorse not only his concept but also when he gets down to specifics. Some of the things he wants to focus on, including the Moonshot for Cancer, for example, is one, of course, the President and the Vice President and the vast majority of Americans would endorse because there isn't a single one of us who hasn't been touched by the threat or the actual disease of cancer among our families and friends. I won't go through the entire list, but whether we are dealing with the issues involving the brain, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, neurological issues--there are so many needs there, and I wholeheartedly endorse what he is setting out to do. On a bipartisan basis, I will work with him and Senator Murray and Senator Blunt and Senator Lindsey Graham. We all share these feelings, that this is something that will be a legacy item for this Senate. I thank the Senator from Tennessee for his leadership and his cooperation in building up the budget for the National Institutes of Health research this year.…
