The Awesome Responsibility of Leadership: A Conversation with Harry Reid and Eric Cantor

Bioscience and Medical Research Funding

• NCATS Establishment: The National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) was established through bipartisan leadership by Senators Reid and House Leader Cantor, with legislation approved by both chambers in late 2011 and signed into law in early 2012 to accelerate the translation of basic research into medical applications.
• Budget Pressures: Both leaders expressed deep concern regarding budget cuts and "sequestration" affecting the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation, and Department of Defense medical research programs.
• Funding Impact: Senator Reid noted that sequestration forced institutions like Ohio State University to eliminate critical medical programs, and highlighted that young scientists currently face the lowest funding success rates in a generation.
• Federal Role: Reid emphasized that despite private sector contributions, the federal government must resume its primary role in funding high-risk, high-reward research to solve "dread diseases."
• Obamacare Prevention Funds: Cantor expressed concern that while the Affordable Care Act allocated billions for preventive care, legislative opposition has threatened to divert these funds for other purposes.

Public Health, Obesity, and Prevention

• Economic Cost of Obesity: Research cited by the Milken Institute indicates that changes in body weight since 1991 cost the U.S. $1 trillion annually in lost productivity and out-of-pocket costs.
• Link Between Poverty and Obesity: Reid identified the correlation between poverty and obesity, noting that low-income Americans often rely on cheap, unhealthy food; he argued that providing nutritious school meals is a critical solution.
• Sequestration Consequence on Nutrition: Reid criticized the current sequestration process for potentially cutting school breakfast programs to fund meat inspector salaries, harming children who rely on school meals.
• Wellness Technology: Cantor shared a personal anecdote about adopting a "Nike Fuel Band" to increase physical activity, suggesting technology can help individuals become more accountable for their health.
• Policy Incentives: Cantor advocated for health insurance reforms that reward employers and employees for achieving specific health goals, such as lower premiums for meeting wellness targets.

Immigration Reform

• Legislative Timeline: Senator Reid pledged to bring a comprehensive immigration reform bill to the Senate floor for a vote before the July 4th recess, following months of work by a bipartisan group of four Democrats and four Republicans.
• Pathway to Citizenship: The proposed Senate bill offers a 12-to-13-year pathway to legalization for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants, requiring them to pay fines, pay taxes, learn English, and clear criminal checks, though they must go to the back of the line.
• House Action: House Majority Leader Cantor confirmed that House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte is beginning discussions on an "ag worker" piece and an "E-Verify" provision, though the House has not yet passed a comprehensive bill.
• STEM Visas: Both leaders agreed on the necessity of "STEM visas" (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) to retain international students educated in U.S. universities, arguing that the current system forces skilled workers to return home.
• Fiscal Scoring Dispute: Reid urged Cantor not to score immigration reform strictly based on Congressional Budget Office fiscal metrics, arguing that the system fails to credit the economic benefits of productivity and longevity gained from keeping skilled immigrants.
• Obamacare Eligibility: Cantor raised the issue of whether undocumented immigrants and those in line for legalization will be eligible for benefits under the Affordable Care Act, a point of contention in House discussions.
• Democratic Strategy: Reid referenced the 2008 election, noting that the Hispanic community's high turnout (70% for Obama) and future voting power make immigration reform politically imperative for the Republican Party.

Education and Economic Competitiveness

• Global Decline: Both leaders acknowledged that the U.S. has fallen behind other nations in education, with 18 of the top 20 world universities no longer located in the U.S., compared to 18 out of 20 a few years prior.
• Resource Constraints: Reid highlighted severe strain on local districts like Clark County School District, which has laid off 1,000 teachers and serves a population where 20-25% qualify for reduced lunch programs.
• Charter and School Choice: Cantor cited the New Orleans post-Katrina education reform as a model, praising a scholarship program that allowed parents to choose parochial or charter schools over failing district assignments.
• Human Capital Argument: Cantor warned that with 11 children in India and China for every one in the U.S., the nation must innovate in education delivery, noting that Steve Jobs succeeded with Apple not due to higher R&D spending, but through superior leadership of people.
• Bipartisan History: Reid recalled successful cooperation between him and former Republican Senator John Chafee in the early 1990s, arguing that personal relationships and cross-party fundraising were essential tools that have been lost.

Bipartisanship and Future Outlook

• NCATS Precedent: Cantor pointed to the quiet, non-partisan success of the NCATS legislation as a model for how the two leaders can work together without fanfare to achieve substantive results.
• Upcoming Collaboration: Cantor announced plans to lead a bipartisan trip to the NIH to foster personal understanding and identify areas for future cooperation.
• Fundraising Initiative: Reid and Cantor engaged in a lighthearted agreement to hold joint fundraising events in each other's home states (Vegas and Richmond) to demonstrate the viability of cross-party cooperation.
• Political Reality: Reid acknowledged the difficulty of passing comprehensive immigration reform due to the "piecemeal" approach that has historically failed over the last 15 years.
• Social Capital: Cantor invoked the concept of "social capital," comparing modern community barn-raisings to the immigrant drive that built America, emphasizing the need for a system that integrates newcomers while maintaining the rule of law.