2015 Goal Receives Support from 92 Senators and 280 Representatives

On September 21st, the co-chairs of the House Cancer Caucus and the House 2015 Caucus held a press conference in support of the 2015 Goal.  These two groups, along with the Senate Cancer Coalition, sent letters this month to President Bush expressing support for the NCI’s goal of eliminating cancer death and suffering by the year 2015. 

Ninety-two Senators signed onto a bipartisan letter led by Senator Diane Feinstein of California and Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas – the co-chairs of the Senate Cancer Coalition. 

On the House side, 280 members of Congress signed onto an identical letter led by the co-chairs of the House 2015 Caucus (Representatives Clay Shaw of Florida and Collin Peterson of Minnesota) and the co-chairs of the House Cancer Caucus (Representatives Deborah Pryce of Ohio, Lois Capps of California, Steve Israel of New York, and Sue Myrick of North Carolina). 

According to Senator Feinstein, “The most immediate step Congress can take to help achieve the goal of eliminating cancer in 10 years is to maintain $29.4 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health in the next fiscal year that is pending in the Senate.”

Senator Brownback noted that “by continuing to prioritize investments in cancer research and programs and increasing patient access to life-saving treatments, the vital goal of eliminating cancer in ten years is within reach.”

“The 2015 goal is about spurring hope into action, and making the impossible possible,” in the words of Congresswoman Pryce.  “By working together and implying all the tools at our fingertips, from research to treatment to patient advocacy, we are on our way to making cancer a manageable disease.”

Congressman Shaw, who has survived lung cancer once already and is currently fighting the disease, said in a press release: “Congress and the Administration have done a good job recognizing the need for increased funding when it comes to research and development for cures of fatal diseases. But, I think we can do more for cancer, and we need to act now.

"As a cancer survivor, I thank the Bush Administration and my colleagues for their support of the 2015 goal,” said Rep. Sue Myrick.  “I have great faith that in 10 years cancer will be a manageable disease, and we will find a cure."  

Congresswoman Capps expressed her gratitude for the NCI’s “unparalleled accomplishments,” and pointed out that “Congress needs to step up and give NCI the resources and tools necessary to achieve this goal and bring hope to millions.”

 “I am pleased to be standing with my Democratic and Republican colleagues in announcing our commitment to curing cancer by 2015." noted Rep. Steve Israel.  According to Rep. Collin Peterson, “The 2015 goal is not only about dedicating more research dollars towards cancer treatments and cures, but it’s also about increasing support for the health infrastructure so patients have access and can afford the testing and the treatments closer to home.”