WASHINGTON, D.C. -- May 22, 2008 -- “Millions of Americans touched by cancer can celebrate the Senate’s overwhelming passage today of a supplemental appropriations bill that includes additional funding for cancer research. In a 75-22 vote, senators approved $400 million in additional funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an effort spearheaded by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), that will help to continue lifesaving cancer research that could otherwise go unfunded.
“The vote comes just two days after the announcement that Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), a long-time champion of increasing the federal investment in the cancer fight, was diagnosed with brain cancer. We are hopeful that today’s vote is an indication of a renewed commitment from Congress to fulfill its critical role as a partner in the fight against this disease.
“The cancer community applauds Sen. Harkin for leading the effort to add funding for NIH, for his tenacity and his unwavering commitment to making cancer a higher national priority. We urge the House of Representatives to follow the Senate’s lead and affirm its support for funding that can help stem years of frozen and cut funding for cancer research.”
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]
