Kay gets another shout out on the war against cancer...

Take it for what it's worth, but according to NewsMax, Arlen Specter seemed to indicate earlier this week that the lack of a war on cancer led to Jack Kemp's death (link). Excerpt follows...

"Well, I was sorry to disappoint many people. Frankly, I was disappointed that the Republican Party didn't want me as their candidate," Mr. Specter said on CBS's "Face the Nation." "But as a matter of principle, I'm becoming much more comfortable with the Democrats' approach. And one of the items that I'm working on, Bob, is funding for medical research."

Mr. Specter continued: "If we had pursued what President Nixon declared in 1970 as the war on cancer, we would have cured many strains. I think Jack Kemp would be alive today. And that research has saved or prolonged many lives, including mine."

Both Rick and Kay have been strong anti cancer advocates, even to a fault. Rick obviously gets dinged by some conservatives for pushing the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer in girls. He also gets praise or gets dinged for his big cancer ballot initiative which will pump billions into Texas cancer research. Rick also gets props from a lot of cancer advocates for supporting ETF grants that show some serious promise in fighting cancer, including some very promising nanotechnology anti cancer applications.

Kay lately has been getting big props for her work on this issue including in the Tyler Morning Telegraph (link). Excerpt follows...

Introduced by Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), Kay Bailey Hutchison and Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), the Cancer ALERT Act, which stands for Access to Life-saving Early Detection, Research and Treatment, focuses on:

Early Detection, by placing an emphasis on access to early detection tools available today and promoting the discovery and development of biomarkers to detect cancers in the future at the earliest possible stage when cancer is most treatable.

Research, by promoting public-private partnerships and collaboration between government agencies. The bill also has a focus on translational research so new discoveries and breakthroughs in the laboratory make their way to patients' bedsides as quickly as possible.

Treatment, by expanding access to clinical trials, patient navigation services, and screening and treatment for colorectal cancer, which together will improve access to cancer care for underserved populations.

The Colorectal Cancer Coalition further says that Kay has coauthored a letter to their Senate colleagues asking for more government funding(link). Excerpt follows...

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) have authored a Senate Dear Colleague Letter in support of increasing the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) budget to $6 billion in Fiscal Year 2010 and doubling NCI’s budget over the next five years.

“We ask that you lend your support to financing research that may lead to cures for cancer in our lifetimes.” The letter went on to say, “We are at a real turning point for cancer research, but whether we actually turn that corner will depend on available resources.”

Defeating cancer in our lifetimes... pretty cool thought.