Duckworth Calls Medical Research, Health Care Support A National and Community Priority

Duckworth calls medical research, health care support a national and community priority
6th District candidate joined by former U.S. Senator Max Cleland at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital-- decries proposed cuts to NIH, CDC and Medicare

Tammy Duckworth said today that if elected to the U.S. House she would fight for government support of key medical research programs that offer hope to patients suffering from traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, strokes and other serious conditions.

Duckworth was joined Thursday by former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland (D-Georgia) at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton where they met with staff and patients. Marianjoy is one of the nation's premier facilities serving patients recovering from such illnesses and injuries. The 6th district candidate also criticized newly proposed federal budget cuts that will have a particularly harsh impact on the ability of such patients to receive treatment and on efforts to prevent such incidents from occurring. She pointed to several revenue-neutral options to restore such funding.

"Here at Marianjoy, a talented team of doctors, nurses and other professionals work each and every day to give these patients hope and the opportunity for healthier, more fulfilling lives. They deserve nothing less from their elected leaders in the federal government," she said.

Duckworth pointed out that the Fiscal Year 2007 budget newly unveiled by Presidnt Bush would adversely affect patients at Marianjoy and throughout the 6th district, and across the U.S.

"There is a direct connection between care that people get here in Wheaton and the decisions made in Washington. Sadly—the choices being made by the federal government are adding to the substantial challenges these people and their families already face," she said.

Among the budget cuts and freezes cited by Duckworth were:

• Cuts within the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The President's FY2007 budget calls for cuts at 18 of the 19 institutes that comprise the NIH— the nation's premier agency for medical research. Under the new budget, the overall NIH budget would be frozen at the previous year's level of $28.6 billion. Last year's final appropriation represented the first actual reduction of the NIH in more than 30 years.

At the same time, the president has called for the NIH to step up its work in certain areas, such as avian flu. As a result, other areas of the NIH will be cut, including those whose work is crucial to Marianjoy patients, such as the National Institute for Neurological Disorder and Stroke (NINDS).

"The NIH is the nation's premier source for medical advances. Unfortunately—instead of promising more advances, this budget represents a step back for these patients." Stagnant funding would accelerate a trend that began in 2003. Since then, the NIH has lost about $1 billion in constant dollars. The current rate of inflation for biomedical research is 3.2 percent.

• Cuts at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The FY07 budget calls for a $179 million cut to the CDC— a 9 percent loss from the year before. One result could be in the area of strokes, a key segment of Marianjoy's patient base. According to the American Heart Association, among the areas of the CDC that will be cut is the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program, which currently funds prevention programs in 14 states.

• Elimination of program for people with traumatic brain injuries.
Marianjoy enjoys a national reputation for its work with patients with traumatic brain injuries. Nationwide, approximately 5 million people live with such disabilities. However, the President's 2007 budget would zero-out funding for the Traumatic Brain Injury Act, a $3 million program. Duckworth added that brain injuries are among the most frequent injuries sustained by U.S. troops in Iraq. TBI screenings conducted at the National Naval Medical Center showed that more than 80 percent of injured Marines and sailors suffered temporary or permanent brain damage.

• Cuts in Medicare and Medicaid.
Among Marianjoy's patients, as many as 65 percent are Medicare beneficiaries. Bush has called for Medicare cuts of $36 billion over the next five years, and cuts to Medicaid of $12 billion.

Duckworth said that she was honored to be joined by Cleland, whom she called "a true example of what it means to serve your country." Cleland, a Vietnam veteran, was appointed by President Carter to lead the Veterans Administration—the youngest person to hold that position. He served as a U.S. Senator from Georgia until 2002, and was known as a leading advocate on health care.

Duckworth pointed out that veterans are not spared by the proposed budget cuts. Veterans will experience a doubling of their monthly prescription drug costs. The President's budget also calls for a reduction of $13 million from the VA's Medical and Prosthetics Research Program.

She said that restoring funds for such programs was a matter of "setting better priorities— and often a matter of choosing to support people rather than subsidizing profitable industries."

As examples, she said that these programs could be restored by redirecting a mere fraction of the $14 billion awarded in subsidies and tax breaks to oil and gas companies under last year's energy bill. Another step to help the deficit and fund such programs would be the lifting of a prohibition barring the government from negotiating for bulk prices when buying prescription drugs—a provision added to the new Medicare Part D bill at the behest of the pharmaceutical industry.

"Standing up to the oil and gas lobbyists could mean that more men and women could walk out of this hospital's lobby and return home to healthier and happier lives," she said.

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