WASHINGTON, D.C. -- May 8, 2008 -- “On behalf of the millions of cancer patients, survivors and their families, we commend Senator Kennedy for the work he, his committee and Senator Hutchison are doing to reinvigorate the federal commitment to defeating cancer.
“Although we have made tremendous progress in reducing the death rate from cancer since the 1970s, the issue demands renewed leadership and a stronger commitment of federal funding resources to beat this disease.
“Two thirds of cancer deaths could be avoided in this country by devoting resources to things we already know how to do preventing smoking; ensuring wider public access to lifesaving cancer screenings; and embarking on research targeting the deadliest cancers, for which no screenings currently exist. Preventing cancer and detecting it early will help us win this fight.”
The HELP Committee hearing comes less than a week after ACS CAN released polling results that show overwhelming voter support for an increased federal funding investment in cancer research, early detection and prevention programs. For a copy of the release on the polling results, log onto http://action.fightcancer.org/site/PageServer?pagename=PressroomDate.
ACS CAN also recently launched the Fight Back Express, a six-month, 48-state bus tour to build support for a dedicated funding source for cancer to highlight the crucial role elected officials play in supporting laws and policies that help people fight cancer. To find out more about the ACS CAN Fight Back Express, log onto www.fightcancer.org/bus.
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/.
