Thomas Daschle: “I note the committee is recommending a significant increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health as a whole…”

“I note the committee is recommending a significant increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health as a whole, and for the National Cancer Institute in particular. I applaud the committee for its dedication to tapping the full potential of medical research. Such research represents hope for millions of Americans with cancer and other devastating illnesses, and in that sense it is far more valuable than any dollar figure we may attach to it. I understand that in its report, the committee stated that breast cancer research is among its top priorities, and asserted that the National Cancer Institute should strengthen its budgetary commitment to breast cancer. In light of these statements, I believe it is the committee's expectation that the substantial increase in NCI funding should be reflected in additional funding for breast cancer research. It is reasonable that NCI would increase its funding commitment to breast cancer research in order to respond to the committee's concern that more research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms of breast cancer and to improve the ability to detect, diagnose and treat this pervasive, life-threatening disease.”