[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 21, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H3003-H3004]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   FUNDING FOR RESEARCH UNDER THREAT

  (Mr. Magaziner of Rhode Island was recognized to address the House 
for 5 minutes.)
  Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, a recent vaccine trial for patients with 
pancreatic cancer using mRNA technology produced an astounding result: 
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer.
  More than 90 percent of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer die 
within 2 years, but among those who were in this vaccine trial, half 
are still alive today, more than 6 years later.
  If these results continue in future rounds of the trial, we will have 
made an incredible breakthrough that could give new hope not only to 
those with pancreatic cancer but other forms of cancer, as well. This 
is just one of many ongoing studies showing great promise.
  Unfortunately, right when we are on the cusp of making incredible 
advances in the fight against cancer, the funding for this research is 
under threat.
  Last year, the White House proposed cutting funding for cancer 
research by 40 percent and canceled a number of research grants. Some 
of the biggest cuts have been to research of mRNA, the same technology 
used in the successful pancreatic cancer trial.
  In August, the administration canceled grants for 22 mRNA vaccine 
research studies alone. This does not make America healthier.
  My own family has been afflicted by cancer. I know the agony people 
feel when they receive that terrible diagnosis, the horrible process of 
chemo and radiation, the cost, and the sorrow that American families 
have had to live with because of a serious cancer diagnosis.
  We cannot turn our backs on those families when we are so close to 
finding

[[Page H3004]]

real cures. We have to continue funding the research.
  The truth is that, even before the current administration, we weren't 
doing enough. Last year, the Federal Government spent about $7 billion 
on cancer research. The war in Iran is costing us more than a billion 
dollars a day.
  Think about that. We will spend more on the war in Iran in 1 week 
than we spend on cancer research in an entire year. Think about the 
lives that could be saved and the families who would get to spend more 
holidays and graduations with their loved ones if we had the right 
priorities.
  We don't need to spend billions more on unnecessary wars in the 
Middle East or ballrooms or more ICE agents. Instead, let's do what we 
do best as a country and invest in innovation and science to save 
lives.

                              {time}  1045


                           Stock-Trading Ban

  Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, it has been exactly 1 year since Speaker 
Johnson said that he supports a stock-trading ban for Members of 
Congress. One year, and what has happened? Absolutely nothing.
  We need to pass a congressional stock-trading ban because it is not 
fair that Members of Congress have access to inside information that 
influences major industries--the pharmaceutical industry, the tech 
industry, and others--and can trade off of that information that 
average Americans don't have.
  By the way, Members of Congress should not be conflicted when making 
decisions about how to legislate. The overwhelming majority of the 
American people want this reform. They understand that we have a 
corruption problem in Washington.
  If a bill were brought to the floor today, it would pass 
overwhelmingly. I have a bipartisan bill along with Chip Roy, and 
Members on both the left, right, and center: Pramila Jayapal, 
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Tim Burchett. We have 
a great bill with over 100 cosponsors. We could vote on that today, and 
it would pass.
  We have got a discharge petition. We can get this done. We need a 
Speaker with the courage to do the right thing and call a vote.

                          ____________________