Senators Cochran (R-MS), Boxer (D-CA), Brownback (R-KS) and Vitter (R-LA) Add Their Support to Lung Cancer Mortality Red...( LCA Commends Additional Senate Co...),Health

LCA Commends Additional Senate Co-sponsors

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) commended the support of Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Thad Cochran (R-MS) and David Vitter (R-LA) as cosponsors of S.3187: The Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act.

The bill, introduced by Senators Feinstein (D-CA) and Hagel (R-NE), requires the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Defense and Veterans Affairs to combine forces on a comprehensive, coordinated plan of action to reduce lung cancer mortality by 50% by 2015.

"My home state of Mississippi has one of the nation's highest lung cancer mortality rates, so I understand the devastating impact this disease can have," said Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) who is the highest ranking Republican member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "I am pleased this legislation includes provisions that will authorize increased funding for lung cancer research and stimulate cooperation among relevant federal agencies."

The bill would establish in law the first ever multi-agency, comprehensive program targeted at lung cancer, and would authorize funding for a five year program to reduce the mortality rate of lung cancer, which causes more deaths each year than all other major cancers combined.

Lung cancer takes the lives of three times as many men as prostate cancer and nearly twice the number of women as breast cancer. In fact, more women are dying each year from lung cancer than breast, ovarian, cervical and uterine cancers combined.

"It is critical that we prioritize lung cancer by expanding lung cancer research initiatives and increasing access to life-saving treatments for patients," said Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), who is co-chair of the Senate Cancer Caucus and co-author of the Senate resolution last year that laid the groundwork for S.3187.

All agencies of HHS, including the National Cancer Institute, Centers
'/>"/>