Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the National Defense Authorization Act (NODA) and my amendment which authorizes five million dollars for a pancreatic cancer early detection initiative (EDI) at the Department of Defense (DoD). Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all major cancers--in large part due to lack of research in early detection. I believe we all agree that the patients, families, friends, and loved ones suffering from this disease deserve greater support. My amendment will provide critical funding needed for more research and an early detection initiative (EDI) under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) at DoD. I am pleased that the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee has already appropriated ten million dollars for general pancreatic cancer research funding in this year's funding legislation. This is an increase of four million dollars from the previous year, and I am thankful to the Defense Subcommittee, especially Chairman Visclosky, for their leadership on this issue. While encouraging, this general research increase is not enough to close the gap in early detection of pancreatic cancer. We should do more, especially now. On Friday, this issue hit painfully close to home as America lost a giant to pancreatic cancer. Rep. John Lewis, our civil rights hero and Conscience of the Congress, passed away from pancreatic cancer only seven months after receiving his diagnosis. My amendment is inspired by Rep.…”