The U.S. Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) recently finished its work with the last medical innovation bill, which will be part of the 21st Century Cures legislation, designed to increase federal funds for medical research.
“In order for this legislation to succeed in its goal of reducing death and suffering from cancer and other chronic diseases, it must include funding for the Cancer Moonshot and Precision Medicine initiatives,” Chris Hansen, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), said. “ACS CAN urges Senate leadership to seize on the bipartisan support for addressing a disease that is expected to kill more than 595,000 Americans this year and quickly move to pass a bill that includes dedicated, robust and predictable funding for medical research.”
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the legislation earlier in 2015. The bills will be joined with the initial 21st Century Cures legislation to help researchers develop improved treatments for patients.
“We are all one degree from cancer -- whether we know someone who has been diagnosed or have been diagnosed personally,” Hansen said. “Congress has a historic opportunity to accelerate progress in the discovery of treatments and therapies for cancers that still vex us, and we commend Chairman Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Murray (D-WA) for their determination to keep the spotlight on this important challenge.”
