Late in session last
night, the U.S. Senate unanimously reconfirmed its commitment to making
lung cancer research a national public health priority.
Laurie Fenton-Ambrose, president of the Lung Cancer Alliance, thanked
Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) for their
leadership on the resolution which reinforces the one they shepherded
through the Senate last year.
"This year they were joined as co-sponsors by Senator Diane Feinstein
(D- CA) and Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), who are both co-chairs of the
Senate Cancer Caucus, and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH).
"We are deeply grateful to all of them for getting this resolution
passed and for their strong support of the goals of the Lung Cancer
Alliance to reverse decades of stigma, neglect and under funding of lung
cancer research," said Fenton-Ambrose.
The resolution calls on President Bush to declare lung cancer a public
health priority and to order health agencies to develop a comprehensive,
coordinated program to cut lung cancer mortality in half by 2015.
Specifically cited as areas for action include increased funding for
translational research and specialized lung cancer research centers, more
action on early detection, expedited development of chemoprevention and
targeted drug therapies for lung cancer and screening pilot programs under
Medicare.
Last year, during the previous Congress, a similar resolution was
introduced in the House of Representatives but failed to pass.
A companion House resolution was introduced on April 24, 2007 by
Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA), Congressman Ed Whitfield (D-KY) and
Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen (D-VI).
They have been joined as co-sponsors by Congressman Virgil H. Goode
Jr., Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Congressman Jim McDermott
(D-WA), Congressman Michael R. McNulty (D-NY), Congressman James P. Moran
(D-VA). Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH), Congresswoman Betty Sutton (D-OH) and
Congresswoman Lynn C. Woolsey (D-CA).
"We are hopeful that the House will act soon," said Fenton-Ambrose.
"Slowly but surely we are building a strong coalition of House and Senate
members who are deeply committed to making lung cancer research, early
detection and mortality reduction a national priority."
"It's been long overdue," she said, "but we are getting there."
The Lung Cancer Alliance (LungCancerAlliance) is the
only national non-profit organization solely dedicated to patient support
and advocacy for people living with, or at risk for, lung cancer. As the
number one cancer killer, lung cancer will kill more than 160,000 Americans
this year alone, causing more deaths than breast, prostate, colon, liver,
kidney cancers and melanoma combined.
Lung Cancer Alliance
LungCancerAlliance