Advocates from across the country participating in C3′s 2010 Call-on Congress had the opportunity to get tips on having effective meetings with Members and Congressional staff from two staffers whose bosses are champions for the colorectal cancer community.

Theresa Vawter, Legislative Assistant for Representative Kay Granger (R-TX) who is the sponsor of the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act (H.R. 1189) which would put in place a national colorectal cancer screening and treatment program participated in a panel along with Tom Wharton, Health Care Legislative Assistant and Speechwriter for Representative Dan Boren (D-OK).  Representative Boren is the sponsor of the Colorectal Cancer Screening and Treatment Act (H.R. 1330) which will help to increase population-based screening rates for colorectal cancer by requiring all health insurance plans, both individual and group, to cover a colonoscopy for anyone age 50 or older.

Theresa and Tom spoke with the advocates about why each of their bosses is such a champion for colorectal cancer issues.  Like too many Americans, both Representative Granger and Representative Boren have lost family members to this disease.  Each is using their position as Member of Congress to push legislation that if enacted will lower the cost of colonoscopies and expand access to screening and treatment services. Read the rest of this entry »

As a result of C3’s advocacy efforts, $15 million for a new peer reviewed cancer research program is included in the final Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill.

The program will research cancers, like colorectal cancer, that are not addressed in the breast, prostate, lung and ovarian cancer research programs run by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command (USAMRMC).  In addition to colorectal cancer research, the funds will be used to conduct research in the following areas: melanoma and other skin cancers, pediatric brain tumors within the field of childhood cancer research, genetic cancer research and genomic medicine, kidney cancer, blood cancer, Listeria Vaccine for infectious disease and cancer, and radiation protection utilizing nanotechnology.

The $15 million in funding for this new cancer research program was included at the request of Representatives Kay Granger (R-TX) and Jim Moran (D-VA).

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Although the fiscal year ended on September 30, to-date Congress has only completed 5 of the 12 annual appropriations bills.  This week, Congress moved forward with a couple of important steps and it looks like they are now on track to complete the remaining 7 bills before the end of the year.

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