While Friends continues to celebrate the hardfought effort to complete the 5-year doubling of the budget of the National Institutes of Health, we must continue to educate key Members of Congress and the Bush Administration about the importance of sustaining a significant funding level to continue important cancer research priorities. During the remaining weeks and month of this Congress, FOCR will undertake an aggressive public education campaign. This is to make it clear to the Congress and the Administration that a sustained effort beyond the doubling is critically important to sustain the important progress that we have made in the fight against cancer.

As part of our public education campaign Friends is in negotiations with key Leadership and Appropriations Committee members to conduct educational "Town Hall" meeting at NCI designated Cancer Centers around the country. These town halls are designed to facilitate a dialogue among policymakers, National Cancer Institute leaders, and members of the cancer research community about the progress that have been made. The forums will have an ongoing dialogue about the work that still needs to be done to eradicate cancer.