Medical Research News
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Letter to EPW Committee on Transportation Bill
Oct 05 2011
Sen. Moran Requests Explanation by Securities and Exchange Commission over Financial Mismanagement
Oct 05 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, made the following comments regarding financial mismanagement at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and today’s release of a letter from the General Counsel of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) indicating that the SEC failed to appropriately account for its leasing of additional office space.
"The issues raised by the GAO are troubling and deserve a response from the Securities and Exchange Commission,” Sen. Moran said. “The annual appropriations process is a crucial forum for Congressional oversight and today's revelation that the SEC may be in violation of the Anti-deficiency Act is a sober reminder of our obligation."
The SEC has obligated $180,000 for the lease, while the GAO has indicated they should have accounted for the entire lease, totaling $371 million. According to the GAO, the SEC may very well lack the resources to account for the full obligation of the lease, which would require them to report a violation of the Anti-deficiency Act to the President and Congress.
Please find a full copy of the GAO’s decision attached.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement today after President Obama submitted three pending free trade agreements to Congress on Monday for a vote:
"The trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea have been delayed for three years by the Obama Administration – so it is welcome news that President Obama finally submitted them to Congress. Passage of these trade agreements will not only open more foreign markets for our agricultural commodities and manufactured goods, but it will also lead to the creation of more jobs and opportunities for all Americans. Together, these trade agreements are worth an estimated $13 billion in new U.S. exports, and the agreement with Korea alone is expected to create 70,000 American jobs.
“We cannot afford to sit on the sidelines while other countries move forward. For example, tariffs have caused American farmers to lose nearly 20 percent of total agriculture markets in Colombia over the last 5 years. I look forward to the approval of these trade agreements as soon as possible, so we can give American producers the opportunity to compete on a level playing field, and create more jobs here at home.”
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On Thursday, I had the opportunity to see firsthand how laboratory discoveries are being translated into new drugs and treatments during a visit to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland – the nation’s largest hospital devoted entirely to clinical research. Currently, there are 1,500 clinical research studies in progress at the Center and 10,000 new patients being cared for annually. The Center is uniquely designed to enable researchers to work alongside a wide range of specialists, who deliver the best possible care to patients with the most advanced treatments available. This powerful arrangement has led to a long list of groundbreaking medical discoveries, including the development of chemotherapy for cancer, the first tests to detect AIDS/HIV, and the first treatment of AIDS.
Additionally, research at the Center and throughout NIH directly supports 350,000 U.S. jobs, and indirectly drives 6 million more jobs across the nation. In 2010 alone, NIH research led to the creation of 487,900 quality jobs and produced $68.035 billion in new economic activity across the country. This research is directly linked to biomedical industry developments and private sector growth in Kansas and throughout the U.S. Congress today faces the challenge of balancing effective, efficient government operation with the necessity of righting our nation’s fiscal course during these challenging times. Therefore, it is extremely important that we reduce spending, lower our national debt, and prioritize programs that effectively serve the American people and demonstrate sufficient return on taxpayer dollars. I believe medical research needs to be a priority because it saves lives, improves health, drives economic development, and enhances our global competitiveness. Click here to view photos from my visit to the Center.
This week, The University of Kansas Cancer Center (KUCC) formally applied to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to become an “NCI-designated Cancer Center.” NCI is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and our nation’s principal agency for cancer research and training. Obtaining NCI designation would dramatically enhance KUCC’s ability to discover, develop and deliver innovative treatments to patients in our state, improving their quality of life. Currently, there are 66 NCI-designated cancer centers across the country - but none in Kansas. With NCI designation, KUCC patients would have access to the latest clinical trials and the most advanced cancer treatments close to home.
Kansas has the potential to become a thriving research powerhouse for medical, pharmaceutical and technological advancement, and KUCC’s pursuit of NCI designation is an integral component of that potential. Because NCI designation is the highest recognition for an academic cancer center, KUCC would be better positioned to recruit the brightest researchers and scientists to develop cutting-edge treatments and cures right here in Kansas. Furthermore, studies have shown that NCI designation would attract thousands of jobs and billions of dollars to our state’s economy. Economic development on this scale would not only impact thousands of Kansans today, but would benefit residents for years to come.
Our nation’s scientists are continuing to make important progress against some of the world’s most devastating diseases and our state stands ready to make a greater impact in the effort to improve health and save lives. I commend the teams at KUCC, KU Medical Center, and other partners for their pursuit of NCI designation and I strongly support their application.
Sen. Moran Honored by the American Association for Cancer Research
Receives Distinguished Public Service Award for his support of biomedical research
Sep 22 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) was presented last night with the 2011 Distinguished Public Service Award by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) – the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. The AACR’s Distinguished Public Service Award honors Sen. Moran’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the nation’s biomedical research capabilities in order to prevent and cure diseases like cancer. He was the only senator to receive this award this year.
“Medical research leading to the prevention and cure of diseases like cancer plays a critical role in keeping all Americans healthy and can also lead to billions of dollars of savings in health care costs,” Sen. Moran said. “I am honored to receive this award and will continue to be a strong advocate for research focused toward the ultimate goal of eliminating cancer, and saving the lives of over half a million Americans each year.”
“We are deeply grateful for Sen. Moran’s contributions as a champion of public health and biomedical and cancer research,” said Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.), chief executive officer of the AACR. “His demonstrated support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) will enable the future scientific advances needed to seize today’s scientific momentum, capitalize on prior investments in cancer research, save countless lives, and spur innovation and economic prosperity for our country and all our citizens.”
The mission of the AACR is to prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1907 by 11 physicians and scientists, the AACR’s membership now includes more than 33,000 researchers in addition to health care professionals, cancer survivors and advocates in the United States and 90 other countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise from the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer through high-quality scientific and educational programs. Additionally, it funds innovative, meritorious research grants.
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