Congressman Pete King

Cancer Research

Funding

In my years representing New York’s third congressional district, I have been a steadfast advocate for increased funding for cancer research programs run by the federal government.

In the 110th Congress, I was a cosponsor of the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act, which passed the House on June 12, 2008 – with my strong support -- and was signed by the president later that year. This law advances medical research and treatments into pediatric cancers, ensures patients and families have access to information regarding pediatric cancers and current treatments for such cancers, established a national childhood cancer registry, and promotes public awareness of pediatric cancer. This year, I requested that the Appropriations Committee fund programs under the Act at $30 million per year over the next five years. This funding is essential to ensure that the federal government may continue its efforts in the fight against pediatric cancer.

The Department of Defense (DoD) conducts many innovative cancer research programs. This year, I led the effort on letters to the Appropriations Committee requesting sufficient funding for many of these programs:

• $10 million for melanoma research
• $150 million in funding for the DoD Peer-Reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program
• $125 million in funding for the Peer-Reviewed Prostate Cancer Research Program
• $15 million within the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program for kidney cancer research

I also requested $10 million in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Program. This program was originally authorized in the Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act of 2005 or Johanna’s Law, a bill that I cosponsored.

Sponsored Legislation

Paget’s Cancer Awareness Act (H.R. 822): This bill would provide for an awareness program and a study on a rare form of breast cancer. Due to the rarity of this form of cancer, there is currently no federal program to promote the study and awareness of Paget’s disease. Awareness is necessary to prevent more uninformed victims in the future.

Cosponsored Legislation

Colorectal Cancer Bills: I am the cosponsor of a resolution (H. Con. Res. 60), which supports the observance of March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. I am pleased to report that this bill passed the House on March 30, 2009. I am also a cosponsor of the Colorectal Cancer Early Detection, Prevention and Treatment Act (H.R. 1189), which would establish a national screening program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and would amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide States the option to provide medical assistance for men and women screened and found to have colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps.

Also in support of access to colorectal cancer preventative services, I cosigned a letter to the acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Ms. Charlene Frizzera, requesting that CMS offer coverage for computed tomography colonography, an effective but less invasive diagnostic tool.

Access to Cancer Clinical Trials Act (H.R. 716): This bill would amend the Public Health Services Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require group and individual health insurance coverage and group health plans to provide coverage for individuals participating in approved cancer clinical trials.

The Ovarian Cancer Biomarker Research Act of 2009 (H.R. 1816): This legislation would authorize the Director of the National Cancer Institute to make grants for the discovery and validation of biomarkers for use in risk stratification for, and the early detection and screening of, ovarian cancer. Currently, there is no known biomarker that can help doctors identify those who are genetically inclined to develop ovarian cancer, which therefore decreases their ability to detect the cancer in an early stage.

Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act (H.R. 1844): This bill would provide for coverage of comprehensive cancer care planning under the Medicare Program and improve the care furnished to individuals diagnosed with cancer. It would do so by establishing a Medicare hospice care demonstration program and grants programs for cancer palliative care and symptom management programs, provider education, and related research.