Cancer Research Funding
By: Import User
Updated: July 6, 2007
The American Cancer Society is taking aim at the US House of Representatives…saying lawmakers are welching on a promise.
Dozens of lawmakers including Brad Ellsworth and Baron Hill signed a pledge to support cancer research at current levels or greater.
But, local cancer society representatives and survivors say what theyre getting could take the fight against cancer in the wrong direction.
Former Evansville Fire Chief George Flowers successfully fought hundreds of fires. Hes won a personal fight against prostate cancer…now hes fighting so others will survive the disease.
As an ambassador to the American Cancer Society, Flowers traveled to the capital…there he asked lawmakers to approve a nearly 7% increase in cancer research funding.
FLOWERS: "for the first time in about 10 to 15 years the American Cancer Society with the efforts in pushing for research has seen the numbers come down. Weve finally seen some decrease in the rates because of research."
Instead of 6.7%, the US House proposed a one and a half percent increase in funding. Flowers says lawmakers are not living up to their promise.
FLOWERS"You might as well say this is something to pacify the troops, but its nothing."
Representative Brad Ellsworth was among dozens of lawmakers who signed a congressional cancer promise…pledging to support increased cancer research funding. During his short time in congress Ellsworth says he can site numerous places where government funds are mis-spent…but not on the fight against cancer.
ELLSWORTH: "You pull in the waste, fraud and abuse…it would be easy to fund this and other research we need to do."
Ellsworth says hell honor the pledge…and hell urge fellow lawmakers to support funding that at least matches the inflation rate. Flowers believes Ellsworth and others who signed the pledge will do what they can…but it may come with a high cost…fewer lives saved…and fewer success stories.
The US House is scheduled to take up budget funding for the national cancer institute soon. Flowers urges people to let congress know what they think before its too late.
