WASHINGTON, D.C. -- June 20, 2008 -- “Millions of Americans touched by cancer can celebrate the House passage late last night of a supplemental appropriations bill that includes additional funding for cancer research. Representatives approved $150 million in additional funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an effort that will stem years of frozen and cut funding for cancer research.
“We are hopeful that this vote is an indication of a renewed commitment from Congress to fulfill its critical role as a partner in the fight against this disease and we call on the president to follow the lead of Congress and sign this additional funding into law, helping to continue lifesaving cancer research that could otherwise go unfunded.
“The cancer community applauds Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) for leading the effort to add funding for NIH in the Senate version of the supplemental appropriations bill, for his tenacity and his unwavering commitment to making cancer a higher national priority.
“The Supplemental victory comes on the same day as another legislative success for those touched by cancer around the country. Thanks to Chairman Obey and the other members of the subcommittee, the FY 2009 House Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bill includes more than one billion additional dollars for NIH, representing a positive first step toward getting government funding for cancer back on track in a way that won’t necessitate band-aid solutions like this one in later supplemental spending bills.”
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:
Alissa Havens
Phone: (202) 661-5772
Email: [email protected]
Steve Weiss
Phone: (202) 661-5711
Email: [email protected]
