Seeking a Cure for Pancreatic Cancer

Floor Speech

Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the devastating disease pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth largest cause of cancer deaths in the United States. With a five-year survival rate of just six percent, it is one of the scariest and most difficult cancer diagnoses a person can receive.

Hope is found in outstanding treatment and research facilities, such as the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, located in Central Arkansas, which I represent.

It is also found in the work of scientists and advocates, such as the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, whose Arkansas chapter tirelessly advances awareness of the disease and supports the researchers seeking cures.

During the 112th Congress, the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act, which I supported, was signed into law. Passing this bill was a huge step forward for cancer research.

Federal research grants provide the seed money pancreatic cancer researchers need to identify specific risk factors and develop early detection methods--all of which someday, hopefully, will lead to a cure.

Cancer research relies on the certainty that critical research funds will be available into the future.

But, we can make these investments only when our Nation's spending priorities are in order.

America has what I call a Pac-Man problem: autopilot spending is driving up our debt and swallowing up our ability to fund programs like medical research, transportation improvements, and health care for our veterans.

Nearly two-thirds of our Federal budget is auto-pilot, mandatory spending including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and interest on our debt.

Unless we save and strengthen these programs for the future, Pac-Man will continue to swallow up the dollars we'd like to invest in research to fight deadly diseases including pancreatic cancer.

I have long supported critical funding for research and will continue to do so.

I will also continue to fight to reform the drivers of our debt because, unless we do, our Nation will have even fewer resources to direct toward the research and treatments that will save American lives.

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