This critical legislation will ensure that even in tight fiscal times, funding for life-saving federal colorectal cancer research programs can be sustained.

Since President Clinton issued the first Presidential Proclamation recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month over a decade ago, much progress has been made in the fight against colorectal cancer. Thanks to federally funded research, treatment options for colorectal have expanded to seven drugs, and more precise surgery and radiation.

But despite the research advances we have seen, colorectal cancer still affects far too many American families. Every three and a half minutes, someone is diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Every nine minutes, someone dies from colorectal cancer.

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While the recently enacted health care reform law will lower the cost of preventive services like colonoscopies for some Americans, it won’t help increase awareness about the importance of early detection and screening. To really see an increase in screening rates and save lives we need a national colorectal cancer screening and treatment program enacted. Today, is your chance to help make that vision a reality!

Call 1-866-615-3375 and ask your Representative and Senators to “cosponsor the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act introduced by Representatives Kay Granger and Jim McGovern and by Senators Joseph Lieberman and Kay Bailey Hutchison”

Thanks to advocates like you, we have already called over 200 Members of Congress.

But, we need to reach more Members if we are going to get this life-saving piece of legislation enacted into law. So please take 5 minutes to call 1-866-615-3375 and ask your legislators to cosponsor the “Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act.”

Don’t know what to say when you call? We have a detailed script you can use.

For additional information, please visit http://link.fightcrc.org/butt-in.

The Colorectal Cancer Coalition is deeply saddened by the loss of Arlene Murphy who passed away January 29, 2011. Arlene was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer in September 2004, and over the years underwent several surgeries and numerous different chemotherapies. In July 2009, she retired from her job of 25 years as a secretary for a local school district in Southwest Ohio.

A member of our Grassroots Action Committee since 2009, Arlene was an inspiration to everyone she met. She brought a spunkiness and passion to her advocacy work that truly made a difference. She leaves behind a legacy of passion, commitment and energy on behalf of all touched by colorectal cancer.
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This afternoon, Federal Judge Roger Vinson issued a ruling in a lawsuit brought by 26 states and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) alleging that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional.

Judge Vinson agreed with the states’ argument that the new law violates people’s rights by forcing them to buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties (this is the so-called “individual mandate” provision). His ruling strikes down the entire law finding that the individual mandate provision cannot be severed from the rest of the law.

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This evening, the President gave his annual address to Congress and called for a freeze in domestic spending while at the same time calling for innovation and acknowledging the importance of biomedical research.

“As someone who is committed to winning the fight against cancer, I was pleased to hear the President talk about the importance of innovation. However, it is counterproductive to proclaim that ‘this is our generation’s Sputnik moment’ while calling for a spending freeze for domestic programs.

Now is not the time for across the board cuts to domestic spending. If we are going to find a cure for cancer in our lifetimes, we need a sustained investment in proven research programs – programs that encourage innovation and ensure discoveries make it from bench to bedside as quickly as possible.

On behalf of the thousands of Americans who will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year and on behalf of the millions of Americans living with colorectal cancer I urge the President and Congress to renew the fight against cancer with smart and sustained investments in biomedical research that will not only save thousands of lives but encourage innovation and help stimulate the economy by creating much-needed jobs.”

- Carlea Bauman, President of the Colorectal Cancer Coalition

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