On the recordJuly 8, 2014
I am a cosponsor of both of those pieces of legislation, one authored by a Republican, one authored by a Democrat. I think the point is there has got to be a sense of clarity. We have limited resources here. There is an incredible upside in the outyears in particular if we wrestle this disease to the ground and that notion of a holistic approach, because that is really what you are talking about. You are talking about not taking a rifle shot, not saying, well, let's do this, that, or the other thing, but, instead, take a step back, look at it in its entirety; let's use the full weight and influence of research dollars and health care dollars on the Federal side and leverage this to the best of our ability. If you begin to think that way about some of these problems and we begin to think about, well, what is it that brings us together, there is real optimism here. Unfortunately, people look at Congress and say why can't you people get along and so forth, yet they don't see maybe some of this type of work where we are able to come together and we are able to represent constituents who are struggling mightily under this. I think both of those bills that you referenced, I am honored to cosponsor them and to support the Members that are playing a leadership role. One of the things that you and I can do as Members of Congress is to bring attention to things and to talk to our colleagues and to lead our districts and to persuade people and try and bring people together.
