[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 25 (Thursday, February 14, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S1051]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEMATOLOGY

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I congratulate the American Society of 
Hematology--ASH--on its 50th anniversary and to pay tribute to the 
contributions they have made in preventing and eliminating blood 
related diseases.
  The society has grown substantially from its 200 members at its 
inception in 1958, to over 15,000 members presently, and is recognized 
as the world's premier organization in research promotion, clinical 
care, education, training, and advocacy in the field of hematology.
  Society members consist of practitioners and researchers who have 
been able to translate Federal research dollars into effective 
treatments for millions of people afflicted with diseases that were at 
one time untreatable and fatal. The blood and blood-related diseases 
studied and treated by hematologists include disorders such as leukemia 
and lymphoma, thrombosis, anemia and bleeding, and congenital disorders 
such as sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, and thalassemia. The 
advancements in remedies of these disorders are a direct result of the 
continuing efforts made by the AHS.
  I sustained an episode with Hodgkin's lymphoma cancer 2 years ago. 
That trauma, that illness, I think, could have been prevented had that 
war on cancer declared by the President Nixon in 1970 been prosecuted 
with sufficient intensity. All of us know people who have been stricken 
by fatal diseases and many other maladies. It is my hope that other 
organizations will use the success of the AHS as an example in 
contributing to this Nation's desire for finding cures for the most 
fatal diseases.
  As chairman, and now ranking member of the appropriations 
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, I have been an ardent 
supporter of securing Federal funds for the National Institutes of 
Health the crown jewel of the Federal Government, maybe the only jewel 
of the Federal Government. Health is the country's No. 1 capital asset, 
and the American Society of Hematology has contributed to its success.
  Hematologists have been instrumental in pioneering the use of 
hydroxyurea in the treatment of sickle cell disease and have developed 
the first successful cure of childhood leukemia. Moreover, 
hematologists were responsible for the research that led to, Gleevac, 
the first anticancer drug developed to target a molecular problem that 
causes chronic myelogenous leukemia.
  The American Society of Hematology has played an important role in 
the unprecedented growth and advancement of hematology research. With 
so many great successes over the past 50 years, I am confident the next 
50 years will bring ASH and its over 15,000 members even more 
accomplishments in treating and eliminating blood diseases.

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