Thousands of petitions delivered to Speaker Paul Ryan

Every day in Wisconsin, 90 people are diagnosed with cancer. That’s almost 33,000 people a year, just in our state alone. Those people need and want the most current research and treatment possible.  In a recent poll of Wisconsin votes, 82% said the need for federal funding for cancer research is urgent. Over four-fifths of Wisconsin voters say it is important for the next president and Congress to focus on ending cancer. And we are willing to pay for it. Two thirds of Wisconsin voters also are willing to pay more in taxes or increase the deficit to ensure that there is more funding for cancer research. The critical first step is convincing Congress to pass the 21st Century Cures bill which allows for a major funding increase and supports Vice President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot. Which is why we delivered more than 7,000 petitions from Wisconsinites asking Speaker Ryan to make cancer research a top priority.  No one knows if we’ll have this opportunity again next year. That means we must do everything we can to secure this funding before it’s too late.
ACS CAN Volunteer Kay Lock and Kirby Davidson shared their stories while delivering petitions, because we are all One Degree from cancer in that we all know someone who has been impacted by this disease. We are very grateful for the increase in funding for cancer research that Congress provided last year, but it is essential that we continue this momentum as researchers and scientists discover more breakthroughs in the understanding and treatment of cancers.
Both the Cancer Moonshot Initiative and the 21st Century Cures Act are aimed at accelerating the pace of progress and innovation for cancer and other serious diseases. 
Accelerating progress in cancer research requires a targeted investment and the 21st Century Cures Act is a bill that will provide that support.
The funding proposed for the Cancer Moonshot would support the development of cancer vaccines, advance the development of precision medicine, and boost support for research focusing on childhood cancer.
Cancer is non-partisan.  It strikes us whether we are Democrats or Republicans, young or old, rich or poor, man or woman.  It doesn’t really discriminate.
That’s why we’re all one degree from cancer.  We all know someone affected by the disease.  Someone we love.
Now that the election is over, lawmakers are anxious to get back to their offices, complete their work by early December and start fresh next year.
But there is tremendous hope.  Incredible discoveries are being made, but will be put on hold if we don’t pass these bills.