$16 MILLION INCREASE IN PROSTATE CANCER RESEARCH ADOPTED BY VOICE VOTE

Washington, Jul 6 - The House today approved an amendment offered by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) to increase funding for prostate cancer research by $16 million. The amendment was offered and approved during consideration of the Defense Appropriations Act. Said Stearns, "Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of male cancer-related death in the United States. In addition, active duty males in the military are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer than their civilian counterparts. While there are no noticeable symptoms in early state, the use of widespread testing has led to 9 out of 10 cases of early detection. That is why this $16 million in funding is needed for prostate cancer research for our servicemen."

Stearns' amendment transfers $16 million to the Peer-Reviewed Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) from the Department of Defense's $19.3 billion department-wide research, development, testing and evaluation program. Added Stearns, "The PCRP funds innovative high-risk, high-reward research projects supporting basic and clinical research, but funding for this program has decreased to $64 million for the first time since 2001. I am grateful for my colleagues for approving my amendment to move more aggressively against prostate cancer."

Click for video of Stearns' amendment and its adoption