WASHINGTON—August 26, 2009—Research!America responds to the news of the death of Edward Kennedy, nine-term U.S. Senator from Massachusetts:
Research!America's chair, former Illinois Congressman John Edward Porter, said, "It is impossible to convey the enormity of the loss of Senator Ted Kennedy, for all Americans and certainly for those who share his deep commitment to advancing medical research. His courageous support of the National Institutes of Health and other federal research agencies, of embryonic stem cell research and mental health research has advanced the range and quality of preventions, treatments and cures available to Americans today. His commitment to affordable health care for all Americans is a battle he waged ever since he first came to the Senate."
Porter continued, "As chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Ted Kennedy was instrumental in passing the innovative Ryan White CARE Act and, earlier, the landmark National Cancer Act. In the late 1990s, I had the pleasure of working with him and the chance to see his leadership firsthand as Congress doubled the NIH budget. He always put the best interest of the American people first."
Mary Woolley, Research!America's president and CEO, commented, "In Senator Kennedy's passing, we have lost one of our strongest, boldest and most steadfast champions of medical and health research-and one of our most effective leaders in the Senate. He shared a belief with most Americans in the hope that medical research offers, and he was willing to fight for it again and again. He will be sorely missed, but his extensive and inspiring legacy will live on for many, many years."
Research!America honored Senator Kennedy recently, in partnership with the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health and the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, for his leadership in making research for health a high national priority. Kennedy was the 2008 recipient of Research!America's pinnacle award for advocacy-the Edwin C. Whitehead Award, which recognizes exemplary leaders, particularly those in public office, who have shown a long-standing commitment to advancing health research and who galvanize others in support of science policy and funding.
Research!America is the nation's largest not-for-profit public education and advocacy alliance working to make research to improve health a higher national priority. Founded in 1989, Research!America is supported by 500 member organizations that represent the voices of 125 million Americans. Visit www.researchamerica.org.
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