[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 123 (Friday, August 7, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9093-S9094]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Nomination of Francis Collins

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, few people have had as significant an 
impact on the scientific world over the past two decades as Dr. Francis 
Collins, President Obama's nominee to head the National Institutes of 
Health. As director of the National Human Genome Research Institute 
from 1993 to 2008, Dr. Collins has led the way in medical innovation.
  As his most renowned accomplishment at NHGRI, Dr. Collins achieved 
unparalleled success leading the revolutionary Human Genome Project. 
Established in 1990, the Project's goal was to map out the thousands of 
genes that make up the human genome in order to better understand the 
genetic makeup of humans and to ultimately reveal the cures for our 
most challenging diseases. In 2003, the Human Genome Project, under the 
guidance of Dr. Collins, released its completed version of the entire 
human genome, an unprecedented achievement. Dr. Collins' work has led 
to some ground-breaking medical discoveries, including the 
identification of genetic variants associated with type 2 diabetes and 
the genes responsible for cystic fibrosis, neurofibromatosis, 
Huntington's disease and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. To allow 
this data to be used as effectively as possible, Dr. Collins has 
ensured that all of the data obtained by the Human Genome Project be 
made available to the entire scientific community without restrictions 
on access or use.
  Among other prestigious honors, Dr. Collins has been elected to the 
Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences, two of the 
most influential medical organizations in the world. In addition, on 
November 5, 2007, Collins received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, 
the nation's highest civil award, for his remarkable contributions to 
the field of genetic research.
  Not only has Dr. Collins proven himself to be a brilliant and 
revolutionary scientist, but he is also a remarkably effective leader. 
Perhaps the greatest evidence of this quality is displayed by his 
ability to finish the human genome sequence both ahead of schedule and 
under budget. It is clear why President Obama selected him to lead this 
important agency.
  Last week, I met with Dr. Collins to discuss his vision for the 
future of NIH. He is my constituent, as are many of the scientists who 
work at the Rockville campus, and the academic institutions and 
businesses that thrive due in no small part to NIH grants and other 
extramural programs. I am extremely proud to represent all of them.
  During our meeting, I raised serious concerns about recent actions of 
NIH leadership with regard to two grant programs, the Small Business 
Innovation Research program and the Small Technology Transfer Program. 
Federal law requires departments that award more than $100 million in 
extramural grants annually to devote a total of 2.8 percent to small 
businesses to foster innovation. These programs are catalysts for job 
creation and job growth, and a recent study found that 25 percent of 
all new product innovations were brought to market by SBIR grantees. 
But a provision--encouraged by NIH--was inserted during conference into 
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, with no notice to the Small 
Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, where I serve, although we 
have jurisdiction over these programs. That provision excluded the NIH 
funds in ARRA from the SBIR and STTR requirements, effectively denying 
small businesses $230 million in research grant opportunities. Its 
origins are still unknown.
  The effect on small businesses has been devastating, leading some 
biotechnology firms in my State to lay off employees or close due to 
lack of funding. In June, I chaired a field hearing about this issue in 
Rockville, and although the hearing location was minutes away from the 
NIH campus, the agency did not send a witness. NIH staff promised to 
submit testimony, but it was faxed to us 2 hours after the hearing had 
ended. In addition, during the hearing, we received testimony citing a 
history of perceived bias among NIH review panels against SBIR 
applications.I raised these concerns with Dr. Collins, and we had a 
frank and open discussion. Dr. Collins spoke of his high regard for the 
SBIR program and noted that he could not have completed the Human 
Genome Project in such a timely and cost-efficient manner absent the 
involvement of small biotechnology companies. He has promised to work 
with me and other members of the Committee to ensure that NIH 
participation in SBIR and STTR proceeds according to congressional 
intent. I am encouraged by his support for these programs, and I 
believe that the Small Business Committee, will have a much improved 
working relationship with NIH going forward. I left that meeting with 
confidence in Dr. Collins' ability to lead this essential agency very 
effectively.
  Going forward, Dr. Collins faces numerous challenges, implementing 
the new policy on federally funded stem cell research, moving forward 
on promising cancer research, and developing strategies to combat the 
global AIDS epidemic, among others. These challenges require a 
visionary leader with the level of expertise and management experience 
that Dr. Collins possesses.
  I am pleased to express my support for the nomination of Dr. Francis 
Collins to be the next Director of the National Institutes of Health, 
and I look forward to working with him in the years to come.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have the attached 
letter of support from the March of Dimes for the nomination of Francis 
Collins to be Director of the National Institutes of Health be printed 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                        March of Dimes Foundation,


                               Office of Governmental Affairs,

                                   Washington, DC, August 5, 2009.
     Hon. Edward Kennedy,
     Chairman, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, 
         U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Kennedy: On behalf of the 3 million 
     volunteers and 1,400 staff at the March of Dimes Foundation I 
     am writing to highlight Francis Collins's, MD PhD exceptional 
     contributions to biomedical research and to acquaint Congress 
     with Dr. Collins' long standing relationship with the 
     Foundation. This letter is submitted for inclusion in the 
     Congressional Record.
       The Foundation's investments in biomedical research are a 
     cornerstone of the March of Dimes mission. March of Dimes 
     programs fund several different types of research, all aimed 
     at preventing birth defects and infant mortality and securing 
     reproductive health. These programs and projects include 
     basic research into life processes, such as genetics and 
     development; clinical research applied to prevention and 
     treatment of specific birth defects and prematurity; the 
     study of environmental hazards; and research in social and 
     behavioral sciences relevant to our mission. In 1985, the 
     March of Dimes recognized Dr. Collins's promising talent, 
     naming him a Basil O'Connor Research Scholar and awarding him 
     a grant the Foundation reserves for young investigators at 
     the start of their independent careers. This award marked the 
     beginning of a long and productive relationship with Dr. 
     Collins.
       Throughout his career, Dr. Collins has focused on advancing 
     scientific knowledge that has laid the foundation for 
     identifying and treating genetic disorders. For example, Dr. 
     Collins was instrumental in the discovery of the gene 
     responsible for cystic fibrosis, thereby providing the 
     opportunity to design interventions for managing this complex 
     birth defect and accelerating the search for its amelioration 
     and potential cure. As Director of the National Human Genome 
     Research Institute, Dr. Collins oversaw the sequencing and 
     mapping of the human genome, a major contribution to 
     scientific research and one that has already led to the 
     development of strategies for preventing and treating various 
     birth defects and hereditary diseases.
       The March of Dimes continues to invest in intellectually 
     gifted young investigators because it is they who hold the 
     greatest promise for progress in research and science. All of 
     us at the Foundation look forward to the forthcoming 
     confirmation and to working with you and Dr. Collins to 
     improve the health of women and children here and around the 
     world.
           Sincerely,
                                            Dr. Jennifer L. Howse,
                                                        President.


                    Nomination of Jon Huntsman, Jr.

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to support the nomination of 
the Honorable Jon Huntsman, Jr., to be the U.S. Ambassador to China.

[[Page S9094]]

  I think it goes without saying that Governor Huntsman is a man of 
integrity whose service to the State of Utah has been of great worth. 
Indeed, what Utah stands to lose from this nomination is exactly what 
the United States and China stand to gain: a seasoned diplomat, an 
excellent manager, a qualified politician, and a man who wants the very 
best for the country he loves and has served for more than 20 years.
  It takes great courage for a Republican Governor of one of the 
reddest, most conservative States in the Nation to accept an invitation 
to serve under a Democratic President; yet this is the same courage 
Governor Huntsman has displayed throughout his career. From his time as 
a staff assistant in the Reagan administration to his work in the 
trenches at the Commerce Department, Jon Huntsman, Jr., has proved to 
be an innovative leader, a progressive thinker, and someone who comes 
to this position at a time when the United States needs an Ambassador 
to China who will strive to forge the kind of relationships we need to 
move forward in the globally connected world of the 21st century.
  As the Ambassador to China, the challenges before Governor Huntsman 
will neither be easy nor few. Our relations with other nations are the 
foundation of peace and stability on the planet. And when Richard Nixon 
reached out and brought China back into the international system in 
1972, a huge structural imbalance in the global system was redressed.
  The United States and China are very different countries with vastly 
different experiences and, based on our very different government 
structures, very different values. Yet, as we know, our countries have 
developed complex and mutually beneficial relations. We also know that 
our nations have great potential for beneficial relations, but, as 
anyone who studies history and geopolitics knows, we have the potential 
to clash as China grows and expands its influence. That is why it is 
important for us today to continue what Richard Nixon started: a world 
where our countries can exist in peace.
  In my years in the Senate, I have seen a huge change in our country's 
relationship with China. When I came here, President Carter was just 
finalizing the Nixon initiative, and I led the move to pass the Taiwan 
Relations Act, which allowed for the United States to continue a 
supportive relationship with Taiwan even though we had withdrawn our 
diplomatic recognition. I have seen China evolve from a Maoist 
totalitarian system to a communist police state that has allowed many 
personal freedoms and a historic transformation of the economy using 
capitalist principles. This is a relationship that must be handled by 
experienced China hands and professionals.
  That is why I find it gratifying that President Obama has chosen to 
go with someone of great experience and ability--Governor Huntsman. I 
also find it noteworthy that the Governor has been here twice before--
first when he was unanimously confirmed by the Senate as a U.S. 
Ambassador to the Chinese nation of Singapore under President George 
H.W. Bush, and then as a Deputy U.S. Trade Representative under 
President George W. Bush. Now, in his third appearance before the 
Senate as a nominee, he has answered the President's call to serve as 
Ambassador to China and leaves his post in Utah where, I might add, he 
was reelected to a second term as Governor with more than 70 percent of 
the vote. This speaks volumes about Governor Huntsman's ability to 
cross bridges, conquer divides, and put aside partisan politics when 
doing what he believes to be best for his family, our State, and our 
country.
  It is no secret that under Governor Huntsman's stewardship, Utah has 
been named the best-managed State by the Pew Research Center. Building 
on the excellent work of our State legislature, the Governor has helped 
lead our State in economic development initiatives and incentive 
programs that have shaped Utah into one of the most dynamic States in 
the Nation.
  In short, I cannot think of a more qualified nominee for Ambassador 
to China than Governor Huntsman. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, a 
skill that is vitally important in this day and age. Indeed, the 
Governor has been to China on numerous occasions and even learned 
Chinese while serving a mission in Taiwan for The Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is in that light that I have no doubt 
the Chinese will have to respect his affection for Taiwan as much as 
they respect his linguistic ability.
  Moreover, while the Governor will not be making policy, he will be 
known to the Chinese as a Republican. They will see him as an 
independent thinker, while always being loyal to the administration he 
serves.
  Finally, China is a country that admires the businessman and the 
trader, and they are a country that knows that business and trade with 
the United States is the key for their sustained success. These are 
values and experience the Governor knows, understands and has practiced 
during his varied and impressive career in public service and private 
business. His years in international business have exposed him to the 
universe of China experts--people such as my good friend John Kamm, the 
preeminent advocate of human rights in China. It is my hope that he 
will keep the Embassy door open to these experts from around the world, 
and I am sure that he will.
  Again, I commend President Obama for selecting Governor Huntsman for 
this important post, even though Utah will lose a great leader as a 
result. However, Governor Huntsman has left the State in good hands and 
we all look forward to working with Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert in his new 
role as Governor of the great State of Utah.
  In closing, I believe I speak for all Utahns when I say Governor 
Huntsman will be missed, but we all know he is the appropriate person 
for this job. Moreover, his selection could not come at a more 
appropriate time. Indeed, this is a time when a man like Governor 
Huntsman is needed on the world stage.
  I congratulate Governor Huntsman on his nomination. I applaud his 
beautiful wife Mary Kaye and her decision to continue to share his time 
and talents with the world. And I know his wonderful family will be 
blessed by his contribution to our country in this position.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask now that we proceed to Calendar Nos. 
217, 218, 219, 259, 260, 310, 311, 313 and that the nominations be 
confirmed en bloc, and the motions to reconsider be laid on the table 
en bloc, and no further motions be in order and any statements relating 
to these matters be printed in the Record as if read and the President 
be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The nominations considered and confirmed en bloc are as follows:


                         department of justice

       Tristram J. Coffin, of Vermont, to be United States 
     Attorney for the District of Vermont for the term of four 
     years.
       Joyce White Vance, of Alabama, to be United States Attorney 
     for the Northern District of Alabama for the term of four 
     years.
       Preet Bharara, of New York, to be United States Attorney 
     for the Southern District of New York for the term of four 
     years.
       B. Todd Jones, of Minnesota, to be United States Attorney 
     for the District of Minnesota for the term of four years.
       John P. Kacavas, of New Hampshire, to be United States 
     Attorney for the District of New Hampshire for the term of 
     four years.


                   executive office of the president

       A. Thomas McLellan, of Pennsylvania, to be Deputy Director 
     of National Drug Control Policy.


                    department of homeland security

       Alejandro N. Mayorkas, of California, to be Director of the 
     United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, 
     Department of Homeland Security.


                         department of justice

       Cranston J. Mitchell, of Virginia, to be a Commissioner of 
     the United States Parole Commission for a term of six years. 
     (Reappointment)