Submitted Resolutions

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I seek recognition today to commend the Pennsylvania State University and the many students across the Commonwealth who each year play a very important role in the fight against cancer.

The Pennsylvania State University IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, referred to as ``THON,'' is a yearlong effort to raise funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer. The effort culminates in a 2-day, no sitting, no sleeping dance marathon. Since 1977, THON has raised more than $60 million for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Children's Hospital. The Four Diamonds Fund was established by Charles and Irma Millard, after the death of their son, Christopher, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 11. In addition to helping with the cost of treatment that insurance does not cover, as well as expenses that may disrupt the welfare of the child, the Four Diamonds Fund supports the medical teams that care for the children and funds pediatric cancer research through start-up grants and the Four Diamonds Pediatric Cancer Research Institute.

Since its inception, THON has assisted over 2,000 families and no family has been turned away from the Four Diamonds Fund. The hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm of thousands of student volunteers and hundreds of dancers combine with the support of the wider Penn State community and students across the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to make a potent weapon in the fight against pediatric cancer. Thanks to their efforts, the fight is one we are ever closer to winning.

To win the fight against pediatric cancer, and all cancers, once and for all, we need to continue to support vital medical research. When I came to the U.S. Senate in 1981, funding for the National Institutes of Health totaled $3.6 billion. Since becoming LHHS chairman in 1996, I have successfully worked to more than double NIH funding, which was $12.7 billion at that time. The fiscal year 2010 LHHS Appropriations bill provided $30.2 billion for NIH funding, an almost $1 billion increase from fiscal year 2009. I also secured an additional $10 billion in funding through an amendment to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

I have fought and will continue to fight for increased funding for the NIH because medical research saves and improves lives. Medical research, along with significant community support through efforts such as THON, provides children with a real chance to be cured so that they may continue to grow and prosper.

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