Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act of 2008 Legislation

[Christine]

June 25, 2008, WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) today introduced the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act of 2008. This legislation would establish a coordinated federal interagency policy aimed to reduce the lung cancer mortality rate. The Lung Cancer Mortality Act of 2008 implements the policy recommendations laid out in S. Res 87, which Senator Hagel has introduced the last two Congresses.

"The federal government should implement a comprehensive policy to help reduce the mortality rate of lung cancer, which accounts for 28% of all cancer deaths in men and women in the United States. We have seen great advancements in prostate and breast cancer survival rates; and we must commit ourselves to making the same progress with lung cancer. We must bring people together and have the resources to fight this insidious disease," Hagel said.

"Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women, but efforts to fund research and innovative new drug therapies have been shortchanged when compared to other cancers. This bill would boost funding and expand research into the causes and treatment of this deadly scourge. It's time for the federal government to step up its efforts and make fighting lung cancer a national priority," Feinstein said.

This legislation authorizes additional funding for specific Institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand and intensify their research into causes and treatments for lung cancer. It also calls upon the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement an early disease research and management program and encourages the development of drugs or devices for the prevention and treatment of lung cancer.