Colorectal Cancer Coalition

• Coalitions

C3 Legislative Goals 2009

C3 believes that a national commitment to increasing and improving research into the prevention, screening and treatment of colorectal cancer will one day make the disease no more deadly than the common cold. Great strides must be taken for that to happen – but it is possible.

In 2009, C3 is working on the following legislative priorities:

The Cover Your Butt Campaign: www.CoverYourButt.org

The Cover Your Butt Campaign supports legislation that, if passed, will guarantee coverage for nearly
every American that should be screened: those belonging to the poor and underserved, the elderly
and those with private insurance.

Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and C3 Advocate Marilia Sardinha at the 2008 Call-on Congress

• The Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act will establish a program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide colorectal cancer screenings and treatment for low-income, uninsured and underinsured individuals who are not eligible for Medicare.

The Colorectal Cancer Screening and Detection Coverage Act requires private health insurance plans to provide coverage for colorectal cancer screenings.

Increase funding for cancer research at the National Cancer Institute

Federal funding for cancer research has remained stagnant for several years, forcing many cutbacks. Without increased funding we will see more vital research put on hold. C3 is working with other cancer organizations to increase funding for NCI to the $7.2 billion requested in the Professional Judgment Budget Request.

The Creation of a Department of Defense Colorectal Cancer Treatment Program

C3 is asking Congress to appropriate funds to a Department of Defense Colorectal Cancer Research
Program modeled after the very successful Breast Cancer Research Program created in 1992. The program will fund research efforts that investigate new methods of studying early detection, screening and treatment of colorectal cancer as well as attracting new researchers to the field.

Effective regulation of colorectal cancer treatments and care

Regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have a profound impact on the availability of new treatments and access to care for patients. C3 is working to provide support and funding for these agencies and to ensure that colorectal cancer patients are well-served by their regulatory actions.

Last Update: November 25, 2009