Medical Research News
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Medical Research Turning Discovery Into Health
Apr 02 2012
On Wednesday, I attended a Senate Appropriations health subcommittee hearing on the 2013 budget proposal for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest supporter of biomedical research in the world. NIH supports more than 325,000 scientists and research personnel, who work at more than 3,000 institutions across the United States and abroad. Among those testifying at the hearing were NIH Director Francis Collins and Harold Varmus, Director of NIH’s National Cancer Institute.
During the hearing, I asked Dr. Collins and Dr. Varmus about NIH’s mission of turning basic scientific discoveries into advances in health treatments and cures and how these objectives are being pursued in Kansas. In particular, we discussed a ground-breaking private-public collaboration between the University of Kansas Cancer Center, NIH, and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society to expedite the development of therapies for rare blood cancers. The goal of this unique collaboration is to conduct clinical studies that drug companies can then use to develop and market medical discoveries. The first project will test whether a certain arthritis drug could be useful in treating a major type of leukemia that typically affects older individuals. This project will enable Kansans to participate in clinical trials close to their homes at KU. These trials have the potential to help change the course of a patient’s treatment for the better. I believe that collaborations such as this one are critical to advancing medical discovery and maximizing the return on the investment of federal dollars.
At the hearing, we also discussed the integral role that NIH plays in establishing the U.S. as a world leader in research and innovation. Given the vast amount of progress made over the last century and the great potential current research holds, now is not the time to waiver on America’s commitment to advancing disease cures and treatments. If researchers cannot rely on consistent support from Congress, we will squander current progress, stunt America’s global competitiveness, and lose younger generations of doctors and scientists to alternative career paths. In 2010, NIH investment led to the creation of nearly 490,000 quality jobs and produced more than $68 billion in new economic activity across the country. Click here to see video clips of my discussions at this hearing.
Sen. Moran Questions Sec. Vilsack on Safety of Lean Finely Textured Beef
Ag Secretary Confirms Lean Finely Textured Beef is Safe for Consumers
Mar 30 2012
Memorializing the 'Man of the Hour'
Mar 30 2012
Sen. Moran Questions Sec. Vilsack on Safety of Lean Finely Textured Beef
Ag Secretary Confirms Lean Finely Textured Beef is Safe for Consumers
Mar 30 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), released the following statement today regarding the Senate’s consideration of S. 1789, The 21st Century Postal Service Act of 2012, earlier this week. The Senate voted against bringing up postal legislation for debate by a vote of 51-46 on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.
“I am disappointed the Senate has again delayed consideration of postal legislation that would help address the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) financial troubles. Without reform, the USPS will start closing post offices on May 15 and will not be able to stay in business beyond September. With these deadlines quickly approaching, it is critical that Congress considers postal legislation soon.”
Sen. Moran authored an amendment that was included in The 21st Century Postal Service Act of 2012, that would require USPS to set minimum standards of service and alternatives to closure that must be considered prior to closing any post office. Upon the bill’s enactment, Sen. Moran’s amendment would prevent the closure of any post offices, including those in Kansas, until those standards are in place and are considered in each case.
The Postal Regulatory Commission has found that maintaining rural post offices only amounts to 0.7 percent of the Postal Service’s budget. Therefore, reducing service to rural communities will have little benefit to the USPS’ bottom line. Click here to read more about Sen. Moran’s amendment.
Sen. Moran is a member of the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Postal Service.
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Sen. Moran on AgriTalk
Mar 27 2012
Sen. Moran Votes for Passage of JOBS Act
Mar 22 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today participated in a colloquy with several of his colleagues to share his concerns about the negative impacts of President Obama’s health care law, which was signed into law two years ago by the President on March 23.
Below are highlights from Sen. Moran’s remarks:
“One of the problems with the Affordable Care Act is the reality that it will reduce the access to health care for people who live in rural America – we will see fewer physicians accepting patients on Medicare, and we will see fewer hospital doors remain open. The Congress that passed this and the President who signed this legislation set the stage for there to be less affordable health care available to Americans across the country – but especially for constituents like mine who live in a rural state like Kansas.
“The goal of this legislation was bending the cost curve down. It didn’t do it, it doesn’t do it and it can’t do it. So the end result is that Americans will have less options for their own plans. Even the President’s own Medicare actuary estimates the law will increase overall national health care expenditures by $311 billion during the first ten years alone and that private health care insurance premiums will rise 10 percent in 2014. We are going to see a lot less access because the promise that was made to bend the cost curve down, to reduce health care costs, to reduce premiums, was totally false.”
Click here to watch Sen. Moran’s comments from the Senate floor.
Click here to access audio of Sen. Moran’s comments from the Senate floor.
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