Statement of Daniel E. Smith, president, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- February 10, 2009 -- Today, the Senate passed stimulus legislation that includes an historic funding boost for cancer research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). But the bill eliminates funding increases for prevention measures and tobacco control, two critical areas for cancer patients, that were included in the House-passed version. Congressional conferees should restore this vital funding in the final version of the bill.
Following is a statement on the stimulus package from Daniel E. Smith, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):
“Cancer and other chronic diseases take an expensive toll on our economy to the tune of $1 trillion a year in lost workdays and lower employee productivity. Investing in prevention and tobacco control has a dual benefit of improving pubic health and stimulating the economy. Money for cancer screening and tobacco cessation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) creates job opportunities as personnel is needed to carry out these critical public health programs.
“The Senate bill’s $10 billion infusion of funds for NIH and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) would make a tremendous difference in the effort to fight cancer and reduce cancer mortality after years in which federal funding for medical research has been frozen or cut. NIH funds universities and labs across the country that employ researchers and purchase goods and services, providing tremendous dividends for local economies nationwide.
“Increase in aid to Medicaid programs contained in both versions of the stimulus bill will go a long way toward preserving health care coverage for more than 50 million needy Americans who are already being served by their state programs. Additionally, the COBRA provisions in both packages will also help individuals maintain affordable coverage at a time when personal budgets are severely strained.
“The cancer community is grateful to its long-standing champions in Congress for continuing to fight for funding that will save lives. This stimulus package has the potential to inject much needed funding into programs that benefit the financial and physical well-being of countless Americans. We call on Congressional conferees to strengthen the final stimulus package, by including funding increases for lifesaving and job-creating cancer prevention and early detection programs, tobacco control programs and cancer research.”
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]
Steven Weiss
Phone: (202) 661-5711
Email: [email protected]
