"The missing ingredient, onco-politics aside, is the grassroots to back up
our claims and arguments," says NPCC V-P and COO, Skip Lockwood.
May 18, 2005. The full Apppropriations Committee of the House approved an amendment to the
spending bill governing DOD prostate cancer research that will allow the
prostate program to spend $80 million this year on research. This is a cut
of $5 million.
Ovarian cancer received an increase of $5 million dollars so
that they will have $15 million to spend on research. Breast cancer took a
cut of $35 million and will have $115 million to spend in 2006.
The amended
bill makes sure that each organization remains a separate line item and
avoids the pooled solution originally sought in the bill (which NPCC opposed).
While
this is an important win for us, there remains the need to be ever
active and ever vigilant. The DOD is one of the most innovative and
effective research programs in the country. They are our "special
force," they take on highly targeted and highly risky missions and
succeed.
As has
been brought up by a number of people, there is a very real need for
constant and consistent involvement from the grassroots. NPCC is doing
all it can to effect change, to ensure accountability for federal resources
spent, to work with the funders of prostate cancer to prevent duplication of
activities, build partnerships and to expedite the cure for this disease.
The missing ingredient, onco-politics aside, is the grassroots to back up
our claims and arguments. Please contact us here at NPCC and let us know
that you want to work on advocacy issues. We desperately need your
assistance.
Skip Lockwood
Executive Vice President and COO
National Prostate Cancer Coalition
