From the Ovarian Cancer Action Network~Cancer Trust Fund Legislation Introduced

Cancer Trust Fund Legislation Introduced

In 2008, cancer will claim the lives of more than 559,000 Americans and will cost our nation $206 billion in lost productivity, human capital, and increased direct medical costs. Of all the cancers, ovarian is the deadliest gynecologic cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women. This year more than 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 15,000 will die from the disease.

One of the last bills to be introduced before the Congressional recess was the Cancer Trust Fund bill, a piece of legislation that aims to fully fund cancer initiatives through the federal government. By raising the tax on cigarettes, Congress and cancer advocacy groups hope to accelerate the War on Cancer, declared in 1971. Since then the relative five year survival rate for ovarian cancer has increased from 38 percent to 45 percent, indicating that ovarian cancer needs more research, early detection and treatment. These issues, and others, are addressed in the Cancer Trust Fund bill.

Introduced by Mr. Israel (D-NY) and Mr. Higgins (D-NY), the bill aims to augment the annual appropriations to fight cancer. Mr. Israel, a long time supporter of the fight against ovarian cancer says the bill is an important step in the fight against cancer. “Cancer researchers have made great strides over the years and we need to continue that progress,” said Rep. Steve Israel. “I’ve introduced legislation to create a Cancer Trust Fund that will ensure cancer research funding continues when times are tight. I hope this legislation will help get us closer to a cure.”

Monies from the Trust Fund will be available for research on early detection, treatment, prevention and survivorship issues. Further, the Trust Fund will support the breast and cervical cancer early detection and treatment program and the colorectal cancer early detection and treatment program. Other areas funded by the program include clinical trials, care for the underserved, and cancer workforce programs.

Specifically, cancers with survival rates below 50 percent are to receive special emphasis in funding in order to raise survival rates through the discovery of early detection tools, treatments and prevention. “This is a wonderful way to focus on the deadliest cancers, like ovarian. We are delighted to support this legislation,” said Dr. Karen Orloff Kaplan, Sc.D., Chief Executive Officer of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.

The bill will raise the federal tax on small cigars from $1.828 per thousand to $50.00 per thousand; on large cigars the tax will go from 20.719 percent of the sale price but not more than $48.75 per thousand to 52.988 percent of the price for which the cigar is sold but not more than $3.00 per cigar. The federal tax on small cigarettes will increase from $19.50 per thousand to $50.00 per thousand, and the tax on large cigarettes will increase from $40.95 per thousand to $105.00 per thousand. Taxes will also be increased for cigarette papers, cigarette tubes, smokeless tobacco, pipe tobacco and roll your own cigarettes. These taxes are projected to raise $35 billion over 5 years.

The House bill is H.R. 6791.