WASHINGTON, D.C. -- March 26, 2009 -- Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) introduced legislation today that would renew the national commitment to defeat cancer, a disease that is expected to kill 560,000 Americans this year alone. The Access to Life-Saving Early Detection, Research and Treatment or 21st Century (ALERT) Act would take new steps to modernize cancer research, increase access to prevention and early detection services, and focus on developing early detection and treatment measures for the deadliest cancers.
“This bill refocuses and helps coordinate the national cancer program in a way that will help revitalize the war on cancer,” said John R. Seffrin, PhD, CEO of the American Cancer Society and its advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “This legislation would help improve access to existing lifesaving screenings and treatments, and focus our national efforts on finding valuable screening tools and treatments for those deadly cancers where we don’t currently have answers.”
* Modernizing the role of the National Cancer Institute in leading the national cancer program;
* Creating a state grant program for colorectal cancer screening, including a state treatment option;
* Directing several new initiatives designed to develop early detection and treatment measures for high mortality cancers; and
* Fostering new initiatives requested by the cancer research community, including development of a proposed tissue biorepository network
“Cancer is a disease that touches virtually every American, as one in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime,” said Daniel E. Smith, president of ACS CAN. “Making cancer a high national priority by dedicating adequate funding to this initiative can reap tremendous economic and health benefits for the country as a whole.”
Senator Kennedy has been a longtime champion of the cancer community and knows first-hand the importance of making progress in the fight against this disease as he continues to wage his brave and inspiring battle with his cancer. ACS CAN plans to work with Senators Kennedy and Hutchison to further strengthen the bill.
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 https://www.fightcancer.org/.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Alissa Havens
Phone: (202) 661-5772
Email: [email protected]
Christina Saull
Phone: (202) 585-3250
Email: [email protected]