In early September, hundreds of cancer survivors, patients and their families took action on Capitol Hill, pleading with members to increase federal research funding at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) through the Cancer Moonshot Initiative and the fiscal year 2017 budget.
Following that effort, it is anticipated that the U.S. Senate will take up a short-term continuing resolution to financially support the federal government through December.
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) President Chris Hansen released a statement regarding funding for the research.
“ACS CAN urges Congress to seize the opportunity to boost funding for the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute in their final fiscal year 2017 budget,” he said. “We are (on) the cusp of so many promising new developments in diagnostic tests and treatments that now is the time to re-invest and accelerate that research.”
Hansen believes cancer should remain a national priority.
“Earlier this month, nearly 700 volunteers from every state went to Capitol Hill to make clear that funding the Moonshot and reducing death and suffering from cancer should be a top national priority,” he said. “When the fiscal year 2017 budget process resumes after the election, we trust that members of Congress will remember the conversations with our volunteers and supporters and will take action to fully fund the Cancer Moonshot.”
