Political Quotes

“I rise today in order to engage the chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Cochran, in a brief colloquy regarding the "Orphan Products Research Grant" program. I am pleased to note that the bill before us which includes funding for the Food and Drug Administration specifically maintains the current level of funding for the operation and grants that support research on rare conditions and diseases, the so-called "orphan products". While I hasten to point out here, as in many other cases, continued level funding is a reduction in program effectiveness because underlying costs go up which result in fewer grants and less research efforts going into this effort to help what have to be some of the most neglected and medically needy in our society who lack effective therapies. Beyond the grant funding, I am seeking assurance that the Committee intends that the staffing and support functions of the FDA's orphan program are to be continued at not less than the current level of appropriated dollars and FTE's allocated to this most important mission and function.”