Arlen Specter

I have some reluctance to see cancer treatment slowed up by the presence of you six distinguished scientists here this morning, so I will try not to keep you too long.

Do you think there is the capacity with our research ingenuity to pretty much eradicate the radical maladies of the world, with sufficient dollars for research?

We are searching for cures.

It is scandalous that more has not been done since war was declared on cancer in 1970.

You talk about undertaking high-risk projects. The information in the New York Times article pointed out that on the category of Pioneer Awards only 3 to 5 percent of the applicants get funded.

The administration's proposal, this year, is to have an increase in NIH funding of $443 million, which is totally insufficient.

The $10 billion allocation from the stimulus package has created a wave of excitement with the availability of 15,000 grants.

NIH has been described as the crown jewel of the Federal Government and some say it is the only jewel of the Federal Government.

Well, that is great symbolism to conclude our hearing.

I think our veterans deserve better care than they got in this particular situation here.

Thank you, Congressman Fattah.

So, you think that if there was excessive radiation or seeds went into the bladder that would clearly be something that ought to be reported, at least to the patient.

What specifically would you like to see be done by the national health system?

What action has the Veterans' Administration taken with respect to those other sites.

Thank you very much, Congressman Fattah.

Take whatever time you need, Dr. Kao. I wanted you to answer my questions, but you are privileged to say whatever you care to on that.

I am 35 seconds over.

But did you have excessive radiation?

But did you notify the patients?

The allegations, as you have already heard, are very serious.

Let me turn to you, Dr. Kao. You have counsel with you; but let me say that, as you have noted, you are appearing here voluntarily and you are under no obligation to respond to questions.

And what action did you take at that time to notify congressional oversight?

The answer to my question is, yes, you did know about the problem?

When you suspended the program in June 2008, as you testified, did you know about these failures at that time?

Well, what are you doing to correct this kind of problem here and nationally?