Lung Cancer Alliance Announces $10.5 Million In Additional Federal Funding For Lung Cancer Research Has Cleared An Important Legislative Hurdle

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Lung Cancer Alliance proudly announced that an additional $10.5 million for lung cancer research has been included in the House Appropriations FY2014 Department of Defense (DOD) funding bill.    

This is the same House Appropriations Committee that in FY2009, at the request of Lung Cancer Alliance, established the first-ever Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) within the Department of Defense (DOD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) and allocated $20 million to fund early detection research targeting at risk military.

Lung Cancer Alliance secured another $15 million the following year in FY2010, $12.8 million in the FY2011, and $10 million in FY2012, and $10.5 million in FY2013, for a total of $68.3 million secured to date.

If the FY2014 $10.5 million allocation successfully completes the full legislative process, it would bring total lung cancer research funding secured by Lung Cancer Alliance via this pipeline to nearly $80 million.  

The FY2014 Defense appropriation bill must still be approved by the entire House of Representatives.  It will then be taken up by the United States Senate, and if approved, await the signature of the President. But inclusion of lung cancer funding at this stage of the process is a significant development and signals that the program remains strongly endorsed. 

"I am so pleased that we have been able to sustain one of our core priorities from day one – securing increased federal research funding for lung cancer," said Laurie Fenton Ambrose, President and CEO of Lung Cancer Alliance, "and we remain grateful to congressional leaders for their continued backing of this specific and important program." 

Lung Cancer Alliance Chairman of the Board, Admiral T. Joseph Lopez, USN (Ret.) reinforced his strong backing of the funding which is contained in legislation that provides resources for critical national security programs, the health and safety of U.S. troops, and military operations overseas. 

"We know that our military are at higher risk of being diagnosed and dying of lung cancer than the civilian population," said Admiral Lopez.  "Blame is not the issue; lung cancer is the issue. We owe these men and women the benefit of screening and treatment research funding."

Admiral Lopez played a key role in securing the original congressional support for the lung cancer program.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women and every ethnic group and takes more lives each year that breast, prostate, colon and pancreatic cancers combined.

While lung cancer patients are routinely blamed for their disease, 80% of those being diagnosed are former smokers, many of whom quit decades ago or people who have never smoked. Cigarettes were routinely distributed for free in the military until 1976 and are still readily available at reduced prices.

Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA), www.lungcanceralliance.org, is committed to ending injustice and saving lives through an alliance of advocacy, education and support. LCA provides live, real time support, referral and information services for patients, their loved ones and those at risk for lung cancer; conducts national awareness campaigns; and advocates for multiple millions in public health dollars for lung cancer research. Follow Lung Cancer Alliance on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lungcanceralliance and on Twitter @LCAorg.

Media Contact:
Kay Cofrancesco
202-742-1422
[email protected]

SOURCE Lung Cancer Alliance