Experience, Creativity, and Tenacity in the Patient's Battle Against Cancer

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September 19, 2006
 
The Honorable Joe Barton
Chairman 
Committee on Energy & Commerce 
United States House of Representatives
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC  20515
 
Dear Chairman Barton:
 
The 20 undersigned members of the cancer community, representing major cancer-related advocacy organizations, research institutions, and professional societies, would like to thank you for your efforts to strengthen the biomedical research enterprise at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  We support your work to reauthorize NIH in order to improve its level of coordination and transparency as well as to ensure sustained and consistent investment in our nation’s premier biomedical research agency. 
 
We especially appreciate the process that you have led to produce the National Institutes of Health Reform Act of 2006.  The cancer community is very encouraged about the manner in which you have sought to address our concerns throughout the development of this bill.  The willingness of your staff to work with the members of our community, seek our input, and keep us informed about your progress has opened up important lines of communication that can lead to even more productive collaborations in the future. 
 
You have taken an important first step in the reauthorization of NIH.  Your leadership is greatly appreciated in supporting the NIH agenda and proposing constructive reforms, while preserving the mechanisms that have allowed the agency to support groundbreaking scientific discoveries.  As you know, we all strongly support the work of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in leading the nation’s fight against cancer, and we appreciate your commitment to ensuring that the structure of NIH will foster continued success.  In addition, we cannot overstate the importance of seeking increased funding for NIH and NCI.  At a minimum, NIH needs to secure the resources envisioned in your reauthorization bill in order to meet its full potential.    
 
Thank you again for your perseverance and your commitment to a reauthorization bill that improves and strengthens NIH.  As this bill moves through the House and throughout the legislative process, the cancer community looks forward to continuing to work with you to ensure that the proposed reforms at NIH contribute to our shared mission of advancing the tremendous progress being made in cancer research, prevention, education, early detection, and treatment, and to sustain our momentum in this important fight. 
 
Sincerely,
 
American Association for Cancer Research
American Cancer Society
American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology
Association of American Cancer Institutes
Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups
C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition
Friends of Cancer Research
Intercultural Cancer Council Caucus
ICAN, the International Cancer Advocacy Network
     (then as IFADD, the International Foundation for Anticancer Drug Discovery)
International Myeloma Foundation
Lance Armstrong Foundation
Lung Cancer Alliance
Men's Health Network
National Coalition for Cancer Research (NCCR)
National Prostate Cancer Coalition
Oncology Nursing Society
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN)
Society of Gynecologic Oncologists
Translating Research Across Communities (TRAC)