Senate Passes 21st Century Cures; Cancer Research Poised for $1.8 Billion Funding Boost

WASHINGTON, D.C.—December 7, 2016—Today the U.S. Senate approved the bipartisan 21^st Century Cures bill, which includes $4.8 billion in new funding for the National Institute of Health, including $1.8 billion for the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative. In addition, appropriators included Cures’ requisite funding in the upcoming continuing resolution.

A statement from Chris Hansen, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) follows:

“The Senate’s passage of Cures represents a significant victory for cancer patients and their families nationwide. The additional funding set aside in this bill would enable the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute to begin implementing many of the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative’s recommendations for accelerating cancer research. These expert recommendations range from improved data sharing—so researchers can see patterns and possibilities across studies and cancers more quickly—to increased focus on emerging and promising treatments, like immunotherapy where the body’s own immune system is harnessed against cancer. Now is the time to re-invest in cancer research and capitalize on so many new and potentially life-saving developments in diagnostic tests and treatments for this disease.

“We commend Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash) for their steadfast dedication to passing this legislation and increasing cancer research funding, as well as Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) and Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis) for ensuring Cures was a top priority during the lame duck session of Congress.

“We also want to thank congressional appropriators for swiftly including $300 million in Moonshot funding as part of the upcoming continuing budget resolution.

“The National Cancer Institute, under director Doug Lowy’s clear leadership, has laid out a well-defined path for making the Vice President’s Moonshot vision a reality. With the legislation and the funding now in place Moonshot can move forward and accelerate the pace of progress against this disease.

“On behalf of all those touched by cancer, including those like the Vice President who have lost loved ones to cancer, we thank Congress for their strong bipartisan work and look forward to making many of the Moonshot goals a reality.”

About ACS CAN

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. 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.

 # # #