Future Funding

Apparently President Bush has not heard us - so let me repeat. More than 500,000 Americans will die from cancer this year. More than 1.4 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year. Yet, in submitting his FY08 budget proposal to Congress on Monday, the President showed no signs of acknowledging these facts.

Of the 27 institutes that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the NCI received the largest proposed cut of any - to the tune of $9 million. The proposed budget also calls for level funding of all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cancer programs.

The only good thing about the President’s budget proposal is just that - it is a proposal and ultimately it’s up to Congress to decide how invested our nation’s government is in this fight.

While we must continue to hold all of our elected officials accountable for their decisions, it is also important for us to applaud them when they do their part. In today’s State of the State address, Texas Governor Rick Perry promoted the idea to make Texas a leader in the fight against cancer by investing $3 billion over ten years into research and care. That is a start worth applauding.

LIVESTRONG,
Lance

Take action on a national or local level by participating in LIVESTRONG Day

Read the LAF’s official statement on the above issues

Learn more about Texas’ cancer initiative