Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) delivered an impassioned call for oversight during a recent committee session, warning that key areas of medical research and public health are being undermined by federal decisions. Her focus was not only on the bills at hand but also on what she described as alarming cuts and disruptions affecting cancer research, diabetes prevention, and vaccine access.
DeGette highlighted a New York Times report detailing layoffs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), political interference in scientific processes, and growing challenges for researchers. Quoting former NIH director Harold Varmus, she reminded colleagues that U.S. science is one of the nation’s “greatest assets” and questioned why it would be weakened.
A particular point of concern was the halting of funding for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, a program focused on innovative treatments for childhood brain cancer. DeGette argued that while lawmakers consider bipartisan bills to improve access to screenings and medical devices, the broader system supporting long-term research is being destabilized. She noted that only about 4% of National Cancer Institute grant applications are expected to be funded this year, a record low.
Her remarks extended to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she said critical programs such as the National Diabetes Prevention Program face elimination. She also referenced testimony that public health officials have been directed to endorse vaccine recommendations without supporting data, raising questions about the integrity of advisory committees.
At the same time, DeGette acknowledged her support for several bipartisan measures under discussion, including expanding diabetes self-management training and improving coverage for new cancer screening tools. But she emphasized that these positive steps risk being overshadowed if the federal government continues to withdraw support from foundational programs and institutions.
Sharing a personal observation, DeGette described attending a banquet for Friends of Cancer Research, where prominent scientists and former health officials expressed deep concern over the state of biomedical research. She said the mood was “somber,” a reflection of growing fear that the U.S. is losing ground in areas once considered its scientific crown jewels.
In closing, DeGette urged committee leadership to hold hearings on the reported cuts and policy shifts, insisting that Congress must confront the broader challenges facing the nation’s research infrastructure, not just pass incremental health bills.
Source: Congresswoman Diana DeGette
