The President released his Fiscal Year 2013 budget yesterday, and I was deeply disappointed to see that his proposal cut funding for cancer research. This comes just weeks after the President specifically highlighted the importance of cancer research in his State of the Union address. I pointed out how significant this was in a video on our website because even in a tough budget climate, the President seemed to understand how vital it was that we support potentially lifesaving cancer research going on across the country. Equally as concerning in the budget proposal is the continuation of underfunding for proven cancer prevention programs such as the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program at the CDC. Furthermore, the President proposed to pay for these programs with money set aside for the Prevention and Public Health Fund. When an estimated 1.6 million Americans will hear the words you have cancer this year, we cannot afford to see federal commitment to end death and suffering from this disease scaled back. Back in December, Congress showed bipartisan support for funding for cancer research by including an increase in the current NIH budget. The voices of cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones were heard, and even in the face of this disappointing budget they will continue to make their voices heard. Join us in calling on the administration and Congress to make fighting cancer a national priority.
Mariah Forster Olson, an ACS CAN Ambassador Constituent Team Lead (ACT Lead), traveled to Washington, D.C. this week to share her story as a childhood cancer survivor and to advocate on behalf of other patients and survivors during the 2019 Childhood Cancer Action Days.