FY19 Labor HHS Appropriations Bill Includes Language to Improve Cancer Clinical Trials

All of us have been touched by cancer, either through a loved one or through the experience of a personal diagnosis. Without adequate funding from Congress, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) would not be able to facilitate the research it does. Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee released its FY19 Labor HHS Appropriations Bill, which included language to improve patient access to and participation in cancer clinical trials. Moreover, this funding will allow the NCI to implement a new pilot initiative to research patient outcomes to determine the impact it has on cancer clinical trial participation. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to everyone at the NCI for their tremendous efforts, as well as, my colleagues Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) of the House Appropriations Subcommittee and Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) for their bipartisan efforts. Altogether, I am happy I was able to play an important role in the process to make this all happen. I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue to support cancer research so that one day we can finally defeat this fast spreading disease and live in a cancer-free world.