March 12, 2010
The Honorable David Obey
Chair
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Obey:
On behalf of One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC), a collaboration of public interest
groups representing the millions of cancer researchers, patients, survivors and their
families throughout the nation, thank you so much for your past efforts in the fight
against cancer. The investments you have made in cancer research through the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) and through the FY 2010
Consolidated Appropriations Act are creating new scientific opportunities and
significantly accelerating the pace of progress in the fight against cancer.
Continuation of this support is critical to achieving long-term success at reducing overall
cancer incidence and mortality. These recent investments have created dramatic new
opportunities in research, spurring innovation in areas such as genetics and personalized
medicine that will yield long-term economic benefits.
The record of progress is clear. Rates of both new diagnoses and death from all cancer
combined have continued to decline significantly for men and women overall and for
most racial and ethnic populations in the United States. Between 1999 and 2006, new
diagnoses for all types of cancer combined in the United States decreased, on average,
almost 1 percent per year and cancer deaths decreased 1.6 percent per year.1 We now
have approximately 11 million cancer survivors in the US living proof of the gains we
have made in reducing the cancer burden and improving patient care. Today, two-thirds
of patients survive at least five years after diagnosis, compared to just half of patients
forty years ago.
However, despite these remarkable gains, progress in certain areas has not kept pace.
Moreover, cancer incidence is projected to nearly double by 2020 as the population
1 Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 19752006 (2010). Available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19998273
grows and ages, which is why sustaining the current level of support for cancer research
is so critical.
The investments made through the Recovery Act along with the National Institutes of
Health and National Cancer Institutes annual appropriation are now driving delivery of
new research advances, training the next generation of investigators, creating jobs,
promoting industry growth, and helping reduce health care costs. Scientists are using
these funds to:
Explore strategies not even possible ten years ago, before advances in genomics,
proteomics, and regenerative medicine opened new avenues for research;
Build on insights of previous discoveries to more quickly deliver new treatments
for patients; and
Improve health care quality by finding the right treatment for each patient, forging
a new age of personalized medicine.2
OVAC is also extremely supportive of the President's commitment to a multiyear effort
to double funding for cancer research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The
President's FY 2011 budget proposal renews his commitment to this goal. OVAC
commends the President for taking the step of increasing the NIH budget in his budget
proposal by $1 billion. We ask that Congress work to build on the President's proposal
and to fully sustain the current level of spending, including a portion of the investment in
research being made through the Recovery Act. OVAC is requesting that the NIH receive
$35.2 billion in FY 2011, which would provide the National Cancer Institute with $5.79
billion.
The member organizations of OVAC, and coalition advocates and volunteers, are
prepared to assist in every way we can to support efforts to strengthen our nation's cancer
programs. We look forward to continuing our dialogue with you about federal cancer
research and prevention programs as the FY 2011 budget and appropriations process
progresses.
Sincerely,
Alliance for Prostate Cancer Prevention
American Academy of Dermatology Association
American Association for Cancer Research
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American College of Surgeons
American Society for Radiation Oncology
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
Association of American Cancer Institutes
Bladder Cancer Action Network
C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition
2 Investing in Recovery and Discovery: How NIH Recovery and Reinvestment Act Grants Are Improving Health and the Economy.
United for Medical Research (2010). Available at: http://www.investingindiscovery.com/documents/view.html
Charlene Miers Foundation for Cancer Research
Colon Cancer Alliance
CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation
Friends of Cancer Research
Intercultural Cancer Council Caucus
International Myeloma Foundation
Lance Armstrong Foundation
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Malecare Prostate Cancer Support
Melanoma Research Foundation
Men's Health Network
National Alliance for Hispanic Health
National Alliance of State Prostate Cancer Coalitions
National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
National Cervical Cancer Coalition/HPV Cancer Coalition
National Coalition for Cancer Research (NCCR)
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
National Patient Advocate Foundation
Nevada Cancer Institute
Oncology Nursing Society
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Pennsylvania Prostate Cancer Coalition
Prevent Cancer Foundation
Sarcoma Foundation of America
Society of Gynecologic Oncologists
Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance
Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network
ZERO- The Project to End Prostate Cancer