Two Minutes Can Save Lives

Everyone reading this, here is how you can make a meaningful difference in lung cancer research funding -- with very little effort. Details and background are below, but first, know this. We need your help. Now.

Research funds are desperately needed. So is your voice. It is your voice that will help ensure that we receive the funding. We have a very narrow window of opportunity to take action.

Contact your representative

The GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer has made it easy for us. You can fill out their form asking representatives to join the bipartisan Congressional Lung Cancer Caucus and BAM! That’s it! You will have done your part. It’s really that easy.

The fight to restore lung cancer funding

The Lung Cancer Research Program was created in 2009 and funded at $20 million. However, funding for this program has been cut year after year. The first year of the program was the most money it received.

Through our advocacy efforts, the House of Representatives committee has honored our request to restore the original $20 million for the Lung Cancer Research Program, which is part of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP). The full House of Representatives vote could take place as early as the week of July 27.

Congress needs to hear your voice!

Please do not think for a minute that your voice is not important to this cause. Last year, we reached the same “success.” The House honored our request and passed the budget that included the restored $20 million for the Lung Cancer Research Program. However, the Senate slashed funding for the LCRP, and with it, our hopes for advancing lung cancer treatments and improving the lives of patients.

We need you to reach out to your U.S. Senators. We all understand how divided our country is right now. Frankly, your political party is irrelevant when it comes to this cause. This is a bipartisan issue, a matter we can all unite behind.

Lung cancer struck Ruth Bader Ginsberg. It also struck Rush Limbaugh. Lung cancer does not care about anyone’s political affiliation, race, gender, or religion.

What matters now is that members of Congress hear your voice about this issue.

Where do research dollars come from?

For those unfamiliar with the CDMRP’s Lung Cancer Research Program, here is a bit of background. While most cancer research is funded through the National Institutes of Health, with little to no say from Congress regarding how they manage their budgets, the Lung Cancer Research Program is part of the CDMRP, which is funded through the U.S. Department of Defense.

Congress determines how much funding each CDMRP program receives. (CDMRP funds several cancer research programs, as well as other diseases.)

Congress needs to know the facts about lung cancer

Lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer in America and worldwide. Lung cancer kills nearly twice as many women as breast cancer and three times as many men as prostate cancer. Lung cancer kills more people than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined. More than 228,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer and more than 135,000 Americans will die from lung cancer this year.¹

We know these facts. Unfortunately, Congress does not.

And yet, even though lung cancer is the most deadly cancer, the LCRP is disproportionately underfunded. Lung cancer research funding should be equitable to other major cancer research programs funded by the CDMRP.

Please contact your U.S. Senator to request fair funding for lung cancer. Do it now.

Thank you!

To contact your U.S. Senator about our need for equitable lung cancer funding, complete the form available on The GO2 Foundation's website and ask your representative to join the bipartisan Congressional Lung Cancer Caucus.