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Durbin Bill Could Reinvigorate America 's Fight Against Cancer

Statement from Chris Hansen, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

March 12, 2014

WASHINGTON, DC March 12, 2014 We commend Sen. Durbin for introducing the American Cures Act, a bill that would create a mandatory dedicated funding stream for four biomedical research agencies including the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bill would provide $150 billion over the next 10 years, a much-needed infusion of funding that is vital to our nation 's ability to fight back against cancer, especially since regularly appropriated funds for medical research have been declining in recent years. We are hopeful that Sen. Durbin 's bill will prioritize cancer research and prevention, because the disease will killŒæan estimated 585,000 people in America and cost the economy $216 billion this year. The possibility that the bill could be partially funded by a 94-cent increase in the federal cigarette tax as well as increases on other tobacco products would have an additional very positive impact on public health because we know that raising the price of cigarettes at the point of sale is our most effective strategy in reducing smoking. It will save more lives and further reduce long-term health care costs. ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem.Œæ 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 www.fightcancer.org. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Lauren Walens or Steven Weiss American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Phone: (202) 661-5763 or (202) 661-5711 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] #Durbin #cancer #tobaccotax #cancerresearch #NIH #CDC #cigarette #ACSCAN

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