Bipartisan legislation proposed on Dec. 14 by U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) would boost funding for the National Cancer Institute by 25 percent over fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to better align funding with the current cancer mortality rates.
“Current funding levels for research do not meet the alarming rate at which Americans are dying from this horrendous disease,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the House Cancer Caucus. “I am proud to lead the bipartisan Knockout Cancer Act to ensure that the medical research community has adequate funding so that we can eventually defeat cancer once and for all.”
The congressman sponsored the Knockout (K.O.) Cancer Act of 2023, H.R. 6807, with lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI).
If enacted, the bill also would request that a report be provided to Congress within a year of the bill’s enactment detailing the reasons for the nation’s cancer drugs shortages, according to the text of the bill.
The U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with other agencies, would be required to study the reasons for the shortages, including the economic reasons; supply chain failures; delays and other complications related to the development of cancer drugs and the approval of such drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and insufficient generic drugs and biosimilar biological products, the text says.
“Over five decades ago, our nation declared war on cancer with the signing of the National Cancer Act,” he said. “We have made significant progress in combating this devastating disease, but there is still work yet to be done.”
In fact, said Rep. Dingell, the United States must redouble its efforts to research, treat, and cure cancer, and address cancer drug shortages.
“The Knock Out Cancer Act will strengthen investments in research at the NIH to help develop innovative treatments and cures for cancers of all types, and I am proud to partner with Rep. Fitzpatrick on this legislation,” she said.
The Association of American Cancer Institutes supports H.R. 6807, which has been referred to both the U.S. House Appropriations Committee and the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration.