Abstract
After 30 years in the Senate, Oregon Republican Mark Hatfield will retire after the 1996 session. From a powerful position as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hatfield has been one of the most steadfast supporters of biomedical research. Whether joining with Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) to develop new ways to secure funding for the NIH from insurance premiums or working with fellow Republicans such as Representative John Porter (R-IL) to restore cuts to the NIH budget, Hatfield has earned a reputation amongst scientists for delivering when the chips are on the line. His efforts as a friend to the research community have resulted in his receipt of numerous awards, including the AFCR's Distinguished Friend of Biomedical Research.
Interviewed during a hectic day when the budget for 1996 was finally approved by the Senate, Hatfield reflected on why research remains important in a time of fiscal difficulty and offered advice on ways for the research community to keep its agenda vibrant on Capitol Hill.
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