November 2002 Newsletter

Goal and Objectives

Our goal is to mobilize public support for cancer research so that we can accelerate the nation’s progress toward the prevention and cure of cancer. Toward that end, our objectives are to:

Demonstrate the benefits of cancer research;

Illustrate the need for answers to this terrible disease; and

Explain the investment needed for the task ahead.

Congressional Update

Changes are being made in both the Senate and House, in light of the November election results. With control of the Senate returning to the Republicans, all Committee Chairmanships will change.

Of particular importance to the cancer community, Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is taking over as Chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee. Tom Harkin (D-IA) returns as Ranking Member of the Committee. Arlen Specter (R-PA) moves to become Chairman of the Banking Committee.

Stevens has been a member of the Senate for 33 years. He is second in tenure among Republican Senators. From 1997 until 2001, Stevens held the position of Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. While its chairman, Stevens earned the respect of his colleagues due to sheer tenacity and the efficient movement of appropriations bills.

In the House, Rep Tom DeLay (R-TX) succeeds Dick Armey as Majority Leader. Stepping into DeLay’s old role as House Majority Whip is Roy Blunt (R-MO). Elected in 1996, Blunt has risen quickly through the ranks of Congress, previously serving as Chief Deputy Whip. Rep. Blunt was treated for kidney cancer during the summer of 2002.

Also in the House, Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-OH) becomes Conference Chair of the House Republicans. Her background and reputation as a consensus builder have earned her this important leadership post, previously held by J. C. Watts.

By a vote of 177-29, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was chosen to succeed Dick Gephardt as Minority Leader of the House. At her request, John Spratt (D-SC) was elected as Assistant to the Minority Leader. Congresswoman Pelosi is well known for her commitment to AIDS related issues.

Continuing Budget Resolution

The lame duck session of the 107th Congress was unable to complete action on any of the pending budget bills. Rather, a Continuing Resolution extending funding at fiscal year 2002 levels through January 11, 2003 was adopted. This means, like all non-defense agencies, the NCI will get no additional money until the spring, halfway through the fiscal year that began October 1. Not included in the Continuing Resolution was relief for doctors or hospitals affected by cuts in Medicare payments.

Most budget experts say the 108^th Congress is unlikely to pass any 2003 non-defense spending bills until February at the earliest. The 108^th Congress has to deal with budgets for both 2003 and 2004. The legislation mandating budget caps expired and was not renewed. How this will impact the budget process is unclear.

Friends Accomplishments

Since it was announced on July 22, the public private partnership on clinical trials that Friends put together with the Foundation for the NIH, Inc., Association of American Cancer Institutes and five major pharmaceutical companies has received an enthusiastic response. This new public-private partnership will provide approximately $6 million to cancer centers to design and implement new approaches to overcoming barriers to early-phase clinical trials. The goal of the collaboration is to increase the percentage – currently only 3 percent to 4 percent – of newly-diagnosed cancer patients who participate in Phase I and II clinical trials.

The peer review of the R.F.A. received is being conducted now. We will keep you informed on the process when these grants are awarded.

Ellen Sigal Marlene Malek

Chair President