Arlen Specter: “It is true that the budget for three major departments is a large budget. But it is not possible to find $2.7 billion in…”

“It is true that the budget for three major departments is a large budget. But it is not possible to find $2.7 billion in the budget as proposed, when we have other education programs, where we have other health programs, where we have other labor programs on worker safety. The choice really is up to the Senate; that is, whether they will authorize the $2.7 billion increase, which is what NIH needs to fulfill the commitment already made by the Senate on the unanimous 98-0 vote. A vote in favor of this second-degree amendment is a vote against NIH funding for $2.7 billion.”