Cancer Funding in the Wake of Natural Disasters
Posted by Dusty Weaver on October 12th, 2005
Katrina and Rita — names now linked to two hurricanes which left massive destruction on the Gulf Coast. One cannot help but to express concern and to do something for the several million people affected by this natural disaster.
Our nation faces a fiscal challenge to find a way to pay for the tremendous amount of resources this region needs to recover.
In a letter the Colorectal Cancer Coalition sent to members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, Nancy Roach, C3 President, stated,
>”…we must find a way to pay for the relief effort without compromising our nation’s commitment to programs that are critical to the fight against cancer.”
The Administration through its National Cancer Institute set a challenge goal of eliminating suffering and death due to cancer by the year 2015. Congress expressed its commitment in early October, 2005 when 92 Senators and 280 House Members sent a letter to the President in support of the goal.
We will make real progress toward the 2015 goal by building on past investments with continued funding of research as well as programs to prevent, detect and treat cancer.
Congress, through a continuing resolution which extends through November 18, imposed a six-week freeze on biomedical research and cancer prevention and control programs and would cut funding to address the national nursing shortage. In its letter C3 urges Congress “to maintain our nation’s commitment to the war against cancer as it continues to address unexpected emergencies now and in the years to come.”
You can make a difference right now by sending a letter to your Senators and Representative. Click on the “One Minute Advocate” logo located on the right side of of the opening page. Scroll down the page to the heading “Move Forward Against Cancer: Cancer funding in the wake of natural disasters”, click the “Take Action” button and follow the directions.
Read the letter C3 sent to members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees.
