Congresswoman Slaughter Introduces NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins During the University of Rochester’s Meliora Weekend

WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter (NY-25) today introduced Dr. Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), ahead of his speech during the University of Rochester’s Meliora Weekend. Rep. Slaughter, the only microbiologist in Congress, invited Dr. Collins to Rochester. Below are her remarks, as prepared for delivery:

“Good afternoon! It’s wonderful to join so many students, parents, and alumni here at the University of Rochester today as part of Meliora Weekend. And it’s a privilege for me to introduce Dr. Francis Collins, a true visionary in the field of biomedical research.

Dr. Collins has been at the forefront of landmark scientific breakthroughs which have redefined how we look at the world and ourselves.

It seemed to me that science and public policy should go together. I wrote a bill, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, to protect persons from losing their jobs or health care because of their genes. It took 14 years to pass. My Senate sponsor for the final four years, Senator Ted Kennedy, helped get it done and President George W. Bush signed it.

Dr. Collins work has already brought exciting possibilities of new ways to practice medicine with much more to come. In his spare time, he plays a great guitar. Dr. Collins, welcome to my hometown and this great university. We’re excited and honored by your presence.”

Slaughter led GINA for fourteen years before it finally passed the House by a vote of 420-3 and the Senate unanimously in 2008, and was signed into law by President George W. Bush. With the passage of GINA, individuals no longer have to fear their health insurance premiums skyrocketing or their boss making hiring or firing decisions based on a genetic predisposition to a condition they may or may not ever develop. The late Senator Ted Kennedy described GINA as “the first civil rights act of the 21st century.”

The University of Rochester’s Meliora Weekend was founded in 2001 as an annual university-wide celebration for alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends. It includes the opportunity to attend numerous events, including speeches from leaders like Dr. Collins.  

In September, Congresswoman Slaughter celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the National Office of Research on Women’s Health, an office she helped establish after discovering the disconcerting lack of research on women’s health issues at NIH. Rep. Slaughter also allocated the first $500 million in federal funding for breast cancer research at the NIH. In 2013, Congresswoman Slaughter was awarded the “Champion of Science” award by the Science Coalition in honor of her strong commitment to supporting basic scientific research. She was also honored with the “Foremother Award” by the National Center for Health Research in recognition of her central role in taking on the central health and science issues of our time.

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