September 22, 2005

Rep. Pryce, National Cancer Institute, Cancer Advocacy Groups Resolve to End Cancer Death and Suffering  

WASHINGTON, D.C . – Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Upper Arlington) joined the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach and CEO of the American Cancer Society, John Seffrin, to express congressional support for the NCI’s goal of eliminating cancer death and suffering by the year 2015. Reps. Clay Shaw (R-FL), Sue Myrick (R-NC), Lois Capps (D-CA), and Steve Israel (D-NY) also attended the event.

At the press conference, Pryce shared her appreciation for the leadership of Dr. von Eschenbach at the helm of the NCI and thanked the American Cancer Society for its loyal partnership in the fight against cancer.

Pryce made the following statement:

“Despite the great progress we have made in the fight against cancer, our fight is far from over. Cancer has now surpassed heart disease as the number one killer of Americans under age 85. Two classrooms of children are diagnosed with cancer each day. And, this year alone, cancer will claim the lives of more than 560,000 Americans.

We stand here today in our nation’s capitol to highlight this bold initiative that Dr. von Eschenbach and the Bush Administration have undertaken to eliminate the death and suffering caused by cancer by the year 2015. I am proud to say that in addition to the 2015 resolution, we have a bipartisan letter that we will be sending to President Bush signed by over 270 Members of the House in support of the Administration’s commitment to making the fight against cancer a national priority.

The 2015 goal is about spurring hope into action, and making the impossible possible. By working together and implying all the tools at our fingertips, from research to treatment to patient advocacy, we are on our way to eradicating this disease, and making our dream a reality.”

Pryce, Myrick, Capps, and Israel are co-chairs of the House Cancer Caucus. Shaw is a co-chair of the House 2015 Caucus, a forum for Members of Congress who are cancer survivors.