WASHINGTON, D.C. May 7, 2014 Today 's Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing on the fight against cancer represents the first time in more than five years that Congress has focused specific attention on a disease expected to kill more than 585,000 people in America and cost the economy an estimated $216 billion this year. The bipartisan hearing brings important attention to the winnable fight against cancer and demonstrates the need to get federal investment in research back on track after years of static funding that has not kept pace with our potential for innovation. ACS CAN is launching a new advertising campaign this week emphasizing the lifesaving importance of federal funding for the National Cancer Institute. The ad, which appears in publications aimed at Capitol Hill, features Jacqueline Beale, a 12-year, two-time cancer survivor from Glenn Dale, MD Jacqueline, an ACS CAN volunteer advocate, holds a laboratory beaker in the ad, which asserts that research funding must be increased so promising discoveries can make it to the more than 1.6 million people who will be diagnosed with cancer this year. As the single largest funder of cancer research in this country, the federal government plays a critical role in our ability to make continued advances in early detection tests and new treatments that can help to eliminate death and suffering from the disease. Patients, survivors and their loved ones urge lawmakers to make cancer a national priority by increasing funding for research at the National Cancer Institute this year. ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Alissa Crispino or Steven Weiss American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Phone: (202) 661-5772 or (202) 661-5711 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] #acscan #cancer #NCI #research