CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE

Senate takes up Labor/HHS Appropriations Bill
As the 108th Congressional session reconvened on September 2, 2003, the Senate began debate on the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill (H.R. 2660). Senators Specter (R-PA), Harkin (D-IA) and Feinstein (D-CA) are expected in the near future to offer an amendment to the bill to add $1.5 billion to the NIH budget, which would result in a $2.5 billion (9.2%) increase for NIH. in FY 2004. This amendment would require 60 votes to pass as it exceeds a spending limit imposed in the FY04 budget resolution. Friends of Cancer Research joined over 575 organizations urging Senators to support the Specter-Harkin-Feinstein amendment.

Dear Colleague Letter in the House Regarding Appropriations
Circulating in the House is a “Dear Colleague” letter authored by Representatives Lois Capps (D-23 CA), Chris Bell (D-25 TX), Mark Foley (R-16 FL) and Jim Leach (R-2 IA). Addressed to the Labor-HHS conferees, the letter urges the House and Senate conference committee to increase funding for the NIH by 8-10%. In March, the House voted for a 2.5% increase for NIH.

FRIENDS ACCOMPLISHMENTS

“The Fight to Ace Cancer” – Friends is Chosen Beneficiary of Roche Cancer Research Fundraiser with US Open Player Corina Morariu
On August 22, 2003, Hoffmann-La Roche (Roche) chose Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) as the beneficiary of a new cancer research fundraiser, “The Fight to Ace Cancer” during this year’s US Open Tennis Championships and other tennis tournaments. For each ace cancer survivor Corina Morariu serves, Roche will donate $1,000 to Friends. The goal of “The Fight to Ace Cancer” is to raise awareness of the triumphs and struggles of people living with cancer and to emphasize the importance of cancer research. Roche chose Friends as our mission to raise awareness and provide public education on cancer research in order to accelerate national progress towards cancer prevention and treatment complements the objectives of “The Fight to Ace Cancer.” Friends is honored to be the recipient of this Roche fundraiser – it will assist in our public education efforts while celebrating the courage of an extraordinary young athlete for whom innovative cancer research has spelled hope and a return to competitive tennis. This was Corina’s first US Open appearance since her battle with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Unfortunately, she did not serve any aces before being eliminated from the tournament, but we look forward with anticipation to her “acing” future tennis tournaments.

To view the press release on our website about the “Fight to Ace Cancer” please click here.

Friends Launches a New Website!
Check out our brand-new website at www.focr.org! The new user-friendly website is designed to help Friends carryout its mission to raise awareness and provide public education on cancer research in order to accelerate the nation’s progress toward prevention and treatment of cancer. The easy to navigate features include our latest programs, recent news and events, newsletter archives, links to resources and ways in which you can contribute to help us put on more fantastic programs. We believe building a strong foundation of communication is imperative to educating the public about new opportunities in cancer research and issues that may pose barriers to developing treatments and therapies for patients. We encourage you to check out the many new added features and learn more about us. If you have any suggestions or comments for our new website (as we are still building the resources etc.) please email us at info@focr.org.