WASHINGTON, D.C. -- February 26, 2009 -- “The White House budget proposal released today makes a strong commitment to public health by advancing the President’s goal to conquer cancer and enact comprehensive health care reform this year.
“The budget proposal would benefit the nearly 11 million cancer patients and survivors across the country by boosting cancer research funding to $6 billion in FY 2010. The proposal builds on President Obama’s campaign promise to double funding for the National Cancer Institute within five years and to double funding at the National Institutes of Health in ten years. This infusion of funding will help put the country back on course in the war on cancer after years of flat or cut funding, accelerating the effort to develop innovative treatments and new screening tools.
“Each year, 1.4 million people are told they have cancer, and 560,000 people die from the disease. We look forward to a day when cancer will no longer be a death sentence, and a sustained federal investment is key to reaching that goal.
“The President’s budget proposal also lays down a significant marker for major action on health care reform this year. Reforming the system is not only tantamount to helping to repair the ailing economy, it is also critical in our ability as a country to make strides in the fight against cancer.
“Access to quality, affordable health care is becoming an increasing struggle for too many Americans across the country, and cancer patients know the gaps that exist in the system far too well. We need to transform our broken ‘sick care’ system into one that focuses on prevention and keeping people well. With his budget proposal, the President has signaled his willingness to invest in this critical reform, calling out the fact that we simply can’t afford not to fix the problem.
“We urge Congress to follow the President’s lead by making a significant commitment to funding for cancer research a reality and making health care reform a top national priority this year.”
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy partner of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit https://www.fightcancer.org/.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Steve Weiss
Phone: (202) 661-5711
Email: [email protected]
Alissa Havens
Phone: (202) 661-5772
Email: [email protected]
