Walking Your Talk
Posted by Nancy Roach on December 8th, 2005
Many members of Congress find it easy to say they support our war on cancer. We don’t often get a chance to see if they walk their talk. On November 18 2005, we had such a chance.
Senator Durbin (D-Illinois) introduced a motion to the Senate, requiring that negotiations between the House and Senate insist on maintaining the Senate’s proposed 3.5% increase ($1B) for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What does that mean and why does it matter?
The next round of negotiations for research funding are scheduled to begin the week of December 12. As in any negotiation, there are places where you give way and places where you don’t. The Senators who supported Durbin’s motion are saying that research funding is non-negotiable. They are walking their talk about supporting cancer research and prevention.
Interestingly, Senator Brownback (R-Kansas) did not vote yes. Senator Brownback is the co-chair of the Senate Cancer Caucus. [His website says:](http://brownback.senate.gov/LICancer.cfm)
>As a co-chair of the Senate Cancer Coalition, I am continuing to work closely with Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to educate the Senate and public on issues surrounding the fight against cancer. Together, we are striving to renew the war on cancer.
[See what C3 says to Senator Brownback.](http://www.c-three.org/advocacy/brownback-letter.htm)
[See if your Senators support research funding:](http://c-three.org/advocacy/votingrecord.htm)
