This week, Congress completed negotiations on the federal budget and very early today passed the Omnibus Appropriations bills as well as a $900 billion pandemic relief bill. The bill on its way to the President’s desk includes the DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL for Fiscal Year 2021, 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).

To underscore the gains for this community, the funding level for FY21 restores the LCRP to its original level of $20 million, an over 40% increase above last year. This brings the total combined years funding to $175.5 million.

Our deepest appreciation to our Congressional Lung Cancer Caucus Chairs, who secured the funding and also 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) requiring increased strategic focus on early detection to increase the percentage of high-risk individuals who are screened for lung cancer. This has been a core priority of GO2 for Lung Cancer for many years.

Thank you to all the advocates. You can continue your efforts to “Tell the New Congress It’s Personal” on March 23-25 at the 2021 Lung Cancer Voices Summit. Registration is now open.