Getting Close to Restoring $20 M!

We have cleared the second and are close to the final hurdle in the House of Representatives to restoring and securing $20 million in federal funding for lung cancer research!

What Happened!

Today, the House of Representatives Appropriations Full Committee, Chaired by Representative Nita Lowey (D-17-Y), passed the DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21), retaining the full allocation of $20 million for the Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP), within the Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

And there is more good news. While working to increase research funding, GO2 for Lung Cancer secured important “Report Language” to accompany the Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS), Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill that funds the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), to authorize the CDC to promote lung cancer screening awareness as part of its tobacco prevention and control activities. Engaging CDC and requiring increased strategic focus on early detection of lung cancer has been another priority of GO2 for Lung Cancer for years.  The report language included in the bill was developed in collaboration with the American Cancer Society, Action Network (ACSCAN) and sponsored by Congressmen Brendan Boyle (D-PA) and John Rutherford (R-FL), co-chairmen of the Lung Cancer Caucus. Our continued thanks to the caucus and our community of advocates.

With today’s actions, we have cleared the House Committee processes, preparing the Defense and LHHS Appropriations bills for a final vote on the House floor and a conference with the Senate. This unprecedented legislative progress will increase the percentage of high-risk individuals who are screened for lung cancer and restore the LCRP to its original FY09 level of $20 million – more than a 40% increase from the past few years, which would bring the total combined funding from FY09-FY20 to $175.5 million.

What’s Next!

The next step in the legislative process will be for the Senate Defense Subcommittee and Full Committee to mark up or release its FY21 funding bill. When approved by both the House and the Senate, the bills will then be sent to the President for his signature.

Your voice makes a difference!

Currently, the Senate is at a standstill on appropriations while drafting its version of another COVID-19 emergency package. It is possible to not see final action until late in the fall or even after the November elections. Clearing the House was the most important step, but let’s keep making noise over the August congressional recess to pressure the Senate to take up the House allocation of $20M for lung cancer research. We’ve made it easy for you to raise your voice, click here and send a follow up message to your House Representative and Senators.

Be assured that we will be monitoring these developments every step of the way until our goal is reached. Whatever it takes. Whatever the need. We get it done together.

Bonnie J. Addario
Co-Founder and Board Chair		 Laurie Fenton Ambrose
Co-Founder, CEO and President