Members Urged to Take Action Now to Increase Research Funding
(PRWEB) May 24, 2004 -- Members of the Kidney Cancer Association (KCA) have joined One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) in urging Congress to take action to cure kidney cancer and other deadly diseases by significantly increasing federal funding for programs that benefit cancer patients and their families.
KCA Volunteer Governmental Affairs Committee Chair, Sarah Wise, says in Fiscal Year 2005, Congress should take action to provide:
• $30.25 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ($2.37 billion increase). We appreciate the Congressional and Presidential commitment to privatizing research on health matters, demonstrated by the five year commitment to double the NIH budget. While appreciative of the hard work that went into achieving last year's 3% increase at NIH, KCA is concerned that dramatic drops in investment at NIH may halt promising research. Therefore, we are supporting the cancer community request of an 8.5% increase for NIH in FY2005.
• $6.2 billion for the National Cancer Institute (NCR ($1.5 billion increase), in order to fully fund the NCI Director's Bypass Budget. The Bypass Budget is presented annually to Congress by the NCI Director and details the resources necessary to accelerate our progress against cancer. Cancer research needs to be a top priority, as it remains a leading cause of death in the U.S. We believe that Congress should fully fund the critical programs in the NCI Director's Bypass Budget, which offers the best chance for those diagnosed with cancer and our best chance to win the war on cancer.
• $207.88 million for the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD) ($16.28 million increase) to enable the Center to fulfill its important mission, particularly as it concerns the disproportionate Incidence, morbidity, and mortality that cancer has in many racial and ethnic minority populations.
• $205 million for the Nurse Reinvestment Act/Nursing Workforce Programs at the Health Services and Resources Administration (HRSA) ($62.2 million increase). These programs are designed to attract and retain qualified nurses to address the current and projected shortages in the profession.
• $25 million for National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). Comprehensive cancer control is an integrated and coordinated approach to reducing cancer's impact through prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, pain control and end-of-life care. The program supports states and tribes with funding and technical assistance to implement comprehensive cancer control activities and programs.
• $65 million for National Program of Cancer Registries at the CDC. The program supports registries in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and 3 territories with funding, technical assistance, standards for data collection and use, training and support for establishing computerized reporting and data processing systems.
Patients, their families, physicians, and researchers, can take action to cure kidney cancer by joining the Kidney Cancer Alliance (www.KidneyCancerAlliance.org). Members will receive a free DVD training video for new advocates and a periodic newsletter from the Kidney Cancer Association (www.nkca.org).
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