The AACR Call to Action
Research is driving progress against cancer because it is the foundation of every lifesaving clinical advance and every new policy designed to improve the health of the nation. The remarkable advances are illustrated by the declining cancer death rates and the rising number of children and adults who survive a cancer diagnosis.
Much of the research that is fueling these advances is supported by federal investments in the NIH. Strong, bipartisan support in Congress has resulted in four consecutive years of robust funding increases for the NIH. In addition to making medical research a national priority, both Congress and the administration have acknowledged the need for a strong FDA to ensure that research discoveries, once translated into therapies, are safe and effective, and reach the patients who need them as soon as possible.
The enthusiasm and support for medical research are more than justified because we have unprecedented scientific knowledge and capability to deliver more advances across the continuum of cancer care in the future. That is why the AACR urges Congress to:
- Continue to support robust, sustained, and predictable growth of the NIH budget by providing an increase of at least $2.5 billion for NIH in FY 2020, for a total funding level of at least $41.6 billion.
- Ensure that the funding designated through the 21st Century Cures Act for targeted initiatives, including the National Cancer Moonshot, is fully appropriated in FY 2020 and is supplemental to the increase in the NIH base budget.
- Support the FDA’s critical regulatory science initiatives by providing an increase of at least $316 million in discretionary budget authority for medical products.
- Support the CDC Cancer Prevention and Control Programs with total funding of at least $555 million. This includes funding for comprehensive cancer control, cancer registries, and screening and awareness programs for specific cancers.
By providing robust, sustained, and predictable annual funding increases for the NIH, coupled with consistent and sufficient funding for the FDA and the CDC in FY 2020 and beyond, Congress will continue to help us transform cancer care, increase survivorship, spur economic growth, and maintain the United States’ position as the global leader in science and medical research. These vital investments will not only strengthen the U.S. research enterprise, but also save more lives from cancer.
