Letter
in Support of Specter-Harkin Amendment to Boost Health and Education Allocation
(March 14, 2006)
March 14, 2006
Via Telecopy
Dear Senator:
The undersigned organizations representing cancer patients, providers and researchers are writing to seek your support for the amendment offered by Senators Specter and Harkin to add $7 billion to the budget plan approved by the Senate Budget Committee. Absent Senate approval of the Specter-Harkin amendment, fiscal year 2007 appropriations for cancer and other biomedical research will be severely constrained, as will other health and education programs valued by the American people.
At a time when we are beginning to reap the benefits of the Nation's investment in biomedical research, the proposed budget allocation will result in funding that is flat, or even reduced. The impact on programs of ongoing basic, translational and clinical research could be substantial. Failure to remedy this situation could have consequences for our progress against cancer and other life-threatening diseases well into the future.
We urge you in the strongest possible terms to vote in favor of the Specter-Harkin amendment when it is presented to the Senate. Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for your continuing support for cancer research.
Sincerely,
Cancer Leadership Council
American Psychosocial Oncology Society
American Society of Clinical Oncology
American Society for Therapeutic Radiology
& Oncology
Cancer Care
Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
The Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy
Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups
Fertile Hope
Kidney Cancer Association
Lance Armstrong Foundation
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Lung Cancer Alliance
Lymphoma Research Foundation
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
National Patient Advocate Foundation
North American Brain Tumor Coalition
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Sarcoma Foundation of America
Us TOO International Prostate Cancer
Education and Support Network
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization