Take Action: Urge your Senator to sign the Burr/Casey Appropriations Letter

BACKGROUND:

• Over the past decade, our nation's investment in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has often fallen short of what is needed to meet the promise of cancer research.  Despite recent increases in Congressional appropriations, we are still failing to keep pace with inflation. 
• The negative impact is wide-ranging, with dramatically lower grant application success rates and less money available for new researchers seeking their first grant. 
• At the same time, other countries are greatly increasing their investments in biomedical research, creating an innovation deficit for the United States.
• Research funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has played a role in every major advance related to cancer prevention, detection and treatment, as well as contributing to breakthroughs for many other diseases.
• This year, ASCO has named Immunotherapy 2.0 as the advance of the year. This selection recognizes the growing wave of progress using cancer immunotherapy, which has extended and improved the lives of patients, many of whom had few other effective treatment options. For more, check out ASCO's 2017 Clinical Cancer Advances Report.
• In addition to bettering the lives of millions, NIH funding supports over 400,000 non-federal scientists and technical personnel at 2,500 research universities and facilities nationwide.  Their work drives the demand for medical supplies and research equipment.  NIH funding ripples far beyond its headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, to benefit manufacturers and suppliers in every state in America.

CURRENT STATUS:

• We appreciate recent increases in funding for the NIH and NCI.
• We recognize that Congress will continue to face difficult budget decisions in fiscal year 2018, but reductions in funding for the NIH and the NCI will lead to a decrease in purchasing power and slow advances in cancer prevention and treatment.
• We must continue to build on the momentum of the current continuing resolution to catch up on years of stagnation.
• ASCO is calling on Congress to finish the work of the Appropriations Committees and pass a budget to finish out this fiscal year.
• Additionally, ASCO is requesting at least $36 billion for the NIH including $5.6 billion for the NCI in Fiscal Year 2018.

ALERT CONGRESS TODAY:

• Make sure your lawmaker knows current funding levels for the NCI are insufficient to ensure that the clinical cancer research infrastructure is protected, young investigators are able to join the field, and progress continues toward cures.
• Ask your lawmaker to sign the Burr/Casey letter to the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

 Take Action