Press Room

SPRINGDALE, Ark.

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteer Courtney Hurtig, of Overland Park, joined more than 100 other cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, physicians and researchers in Washington, D.C., this week to urge lawmakers to make fighting cancer a top national priority. These advocates united as part of the 19^th annual One Voice Against Cancer lobby day to request cancer research funding at the National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health.

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) volunteers will head to Capitol Hill today with over 100 other cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, physicians and researchers representing more than 50 cancer organizations to share poll results that show overwhelming public support for continued robust and sustained federal investment in cancer research and urge lawmakers to make fighting cancer a top national priority.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) today released a report examining the most common patient barriers to cancer clinical trial enrollment. Made public at ACS CAN’s annual national policy forum, the report found only about one in four (27%) patients has access to clinical trials where they are being treated. Yet, if asked to enroll in an available trial, more than half of eligible patients typically agree to do so.

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed an FY 18 federal budget, which includes; a $3 billion increase for medical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—the largest such funding increase in 15 years; and a $275 million increase for the National Cancer Institute (NCI). 

The bipartisan bill would advance pediatric cancer research and increase transparency and expertise for pediatric cancer research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Additionally, the legislation expands research into the long-term side effects of childhood cancer and its treatments

The administration released its FY19 budget today including a minimum $1 billion cut for medical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), down from what the House and Senate committees have approved for FY 18 funding levels. 

Congress passed a short-term extension to the FY18 spending bill that allows for an increase of at least $1 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for each of the FY18 and FY19 years, includes two years of funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and an additional four years of funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Congress today included funding to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years as part of a short-term extension in the FY18 spending bill. However, lawmakers delayed consideration of renewed funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) until later budget negotiations are completed.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) sent a letter to House leadership and committee chairs asking that they reconsider provisions of their tax proposal that could harm cancer patients. Specifically, ACS CAN opposes eliminating the medical expense deduction and ending tax credits for developing so-called “orphan drugs”.