Political Quotes

“I congratulate Senator Conrad on this budget. He has done a brilliant job, and this bill will give us a safer country and a stronger economy. It will meet compelling human needs and take care of the long-range needs of America. This budget reflects America's priorities and my priorities: finding cures for devastating diseases, helping families with special needs, protecting our homeland and protecting our communities, supporting our troops with what they need overseas--and what they need when they come back home. Unlike President Bush's proposal, this budget makes a difference for families. It looks out for our returning military and rejects the President's Draconian cuts that would hurt the most vulnerable people. I am for this budget because it takes care of NIH. NIH is a jewel in the Nation's crown. It is saving lives and improving our Nation's health by bringing discoveries to patients from the lab to the bedside. NIH needs adequate resources to meet its mission. That is why I strongly supported doubling the NIH budget from $13.6 billion in 1998 to $27 billion in 2003, but this year the President shortchanged NIH. His budget flat funds NIH at $29.5 billion which doesn't even keep up with inflation. Shortchanging NIH means we slow down research and slow down our transition from research to treatment. We need this research to improve the treatments for autism, Alzheimer's, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.”