Lung Cancer Alliance Praises Senators for Cosponsorship of the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act

Applauds New Additions to Growing National Network of Supporters

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Today, Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) praised 12 United States Senators for quickly responding to the national call to action on lung cancer.  All have endorsed the bi-partisan bi-cameral Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act recently reintroduced in the 112th Congress.  

S. 752, and its House counterpart HR 1394, would establish the first ever multi-agency comprehensive program targeted at lung cancer.  Lung cancer causes more deaths each year than breast, prostate, colon, and pancreatic cancers – combined. The current list of Senate cosponsors includes:

Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Senator Robert Casey (D-PA)
Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC)
Senator Ben Nelson (R-NE)
Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Senator Mark Rubio (R-FL)
Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY)
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Senator Jim Webb (D-VA)

These Senators join the bi-partisan leadership of Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), John Kerry (D-MA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) who introduced the legislation.

In thanking the Senators for their support, LCA President & CEO Laurie Fenton Ambrose, said, "We cannot reverse decades of stigma and neglect without the help of these respected legislators.    We are so very grateful they recognize the urgency of the need and the potential for live-saving cost-saving improvements in outcomes for the lung cancer community.  I hope others will soon join their ranks."

The bill requires the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Defense and Veterans Affairs to combine forces on a comprehensive, coordinated plan of action to be presented to Congress for evaluation and funding.  

The legislation also calls for a screening demonstration program to begin the process of translating the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) recent scientific validation that low-dose CT screening of an at risk population can significantly reduce lung cancer mortality into public health benefit.   The bills have been referred to the committees with jurisdiction over health policy in the House and Senate.

Fenton-Ambrose continued, "I am also very proud to announce additions to our National Network of Supporters who believe as we do that we must bring greater compassion and support to the lung cancer community."  Additions include:

Military Officers Association of America
National Council of La Raza
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations
National Association of Hispanic Nurses

To see the current list of endorsers and to read more about the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act go to www.LungCancerAlliance.org.

Lung Cancer Alliance is the only national non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to patient support and advocacy for those living with or at risk for lung cancer.  Lung Cancer Alliance is committed to leading the movement to reverse decades of stigma and neglect by empowering those with or at risk for the disease, elevating awareness and changing health policy.

Follow Lung Cancer Alliance on Facebook.  www.facebook.com/lungcanceralliance  

Media Contact:
Kay Cofrancesco
[email protected]
202-463-2080

SOURCE Lung Cancer Alliance

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