WASHINGTON, D.C.—November 30, 2016—Tonight the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the bipartisan 21st Century Cures bill, which includes a $4.8 billion funding increase for the National Institute of Health, including the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative.
A statement from Chris Hansen, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) follows:
“We commend committee members from both parties—in particular Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO)—for their more than year-long dedication to passing this legislation and increasing funding for cancer research. Today, thanks to Reps. Upton and DeGette as well as all those who voted in favor of the bill, millions of cancer patients, survivors and their families are one step closer to accelerated progress in new diagnostic tools and improved cancer treatments.
“By providing funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically for the National Cancer Moonshot, Congress can ensure cutting-edge cancer research makes it from the laboratory to the patients who need it most.
“Today’s House vote is just the first step, however, toward making this funding and its potential promise a reality. Never before have we been so close to making so much progress in such a short amount of time against this disease. Now is the time for action.
“On behalf of all those touched by cancer, we urge the Senate to quickly take up and pass Cures and for appropriators to allocate the requisite funding in the upcoming continuing resolution.”
