Today President Obama will sign fiscal year 2009 (FY09) Omnibus Appropriations Act into law. The U.S. House of Representatives approved the bill February 25 and the U.S. Senate approved it late yesterday by voice vote. The Omnibus contains several critical cancer funding provisions that we fought hard to see included. For the past few years we have seen little or no increase in federal cancer research and prevention program funding. Because of the work of the Society and ACS CAN staff and volunteers, the tide is turning. This fact is made even more significant given the nation’s severe economic distress. Spending on cancer research, prevention, and early detection would be easy targets were it not for our sustained and relentless campaign. Between today’s news and new investments in cancer research and prevention made in the recently enacted stimulus, we can be very proud of our efforts. Cancer related provisions of the Omnibus include: $30.3 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an increase of $938 million, or 3.2 percent $4.96 billion of the NIH funding will go toward the National Cancer Institute, a $133 million or 2.8 percent increase $340.3 million for cancer programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) a $31 million or 10 percent increase $38.9 million of the CDC funds will go toward colorectal cancer screening, education and outreach, an increase of $25 million that will act as a down payment of sorts for the eventual creation of a national community-based program for colorectal cancer screening and treatment $4 million for the federal Patient Navigator Program run by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, an initiative ACS CAN has long championed to place trained "navigators" in health facilities to assess patient and community needs, and guide patients through the health care system The Omnibus represents federal government spending for FY09. Since the end of the 2008 fiscal year last September, the government was operating under a continuing resolution, which only allowed for flat funding for cancer priorities. This funding is separate from that included in the stimulus package enacted in February. Thank you as ever for your support leading up to this achievement. Even with all we’ve accomplished in less than three months, much remains to be done if we are going to pass laws that will help save lives. To ensure continued success we must build the movement, stay focused on the message, and be true to the Society and ACS CAN’s shared mission, Always remember that if one person can fight cancer, a nation can rise up to defeat it, Together we CAN win!
After months of delay and hard negotiations, Congress has finally passed a funding bill! The bill includes a small increase for cancer research and prevention programs.