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News and Events

Support for National Brain Tumor Awareness Month Surges

May 10, 2008

More than 100 Members of the House of Representatives have joined as cosponsors of H. Res 1124, a resolution to establish May as National Brain Tumor Awareness Month.   With this level of support, the House Energy and Commerce Committee may — but is not required to — consider the resolution and refer it to the full House.

The rapid increase in the number of cosponsors can be directly attributed to the aggressive efforts of brain tumor advocates to persuade their Representatives to support the resolution.   Although 100 cosponsors triggers the possibility of committee approval, that action is not a certainty.  The North American Brain Tumor Coalition encourages all brain tumor advocates to contact their United States Representatives to urge their support for the (more...)

Posted in Advocacy Positions, Headlines

National Brain Tumor Awareness Month Resolution

April 28, 2008

Brain tumor advocates are dedicated to increasing awareness of brain tumors, because educating the public and policy-makers about brain tumors is a necessary first step in advancing public policy efforts that will improve treatment for brain tumors.  The North American Brain Tumor Coalition applauds Representative Jan Schakowsky for her leadership in introducing H. Res. 1124, a resolution that would declare May “National Brain Tumor Awareness Month.”

We are asking each and every Member of the House of Representatives to join as a cosponsor of H. Res. 1124.  Please be sure to make this “ask” when you meet with your Representative. 

For more information about this awareness effort, please see National Brain Tumor Awareness Month resolution.

Posted in Action Items, Advocacy Positions, Brain Tumor Action Week

Ending the Medicare Waiting Period Act

April 28, 2008

During visits to Capitol Hill on May 6 and beyond, brain tumor advocates will be asking their Senators and Representatives to cosponsor the Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period.  This legislation would end the waiting period for those with life-threatening illnesses and phase out the waiting period for all others (those on Social Security Disability who are not considered to have life-threatening illnesses) over a period of ten years.  During that ten-year period, the waiting period would be reduced incrementally. 

 The Senate version of the Ending the Medicare Waiting Period Act was introduced as S. 2102 by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), and the House version was introduced as H.R. 154 by Representative Gene Green (D-TX).   

For a review of the exact language (more...)

Posted in Advocacy Positions, Brain Tumor Action Week

Advocacy Materials for Hill Visits on May 6

April 28, 2008

On May 6, 2008, the North American Brain Tumor Coalition will be joined by advocates from around the nation in meeting with their Senators and Representatives to urge them to take action to improve brain tumor treatments and access to care.  More than 60 advocates will join in collective action to advance the interests of those with brain tumors and their families, friends, caregivers, and loved ones.

The core mission for the NABTC is boosting federal support for brain tumor research.  We are urging two actions from the Senate and House: 1) to provide a 6 percent increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and 2) to protect special research initiatives that have advanced knowledge and treatments for brain tumors. 

 We are (more...)

Posted in Action Items, Advocacy Positions, Brain Tumor Action Week

ACT NOW! Contact your Representative to Urge Cosponsorship of the National Brain Tumor Awareness Month Resolution

April 24, 2008

Please contact your United States Representative IMMEDIATELY to ask him or her to cosponsor H Res 1124, the National Brain Tumor Awareness Month Resolution.  Representative Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced this resolution to designate May as National Brain Tumor Awareness Month, and we need you to pick up the telephone or send an email to your United States Representative to help move this resolution through the legislative process.  Representatives can show their support for the brain tumor community and their commitment to enhancing awareness of brain tumors by signing on as a cosponsor of H Res 1124.

 There are already 52 cosponsors of H Res 1124, but we need at least 100 cosponsors to move this resolution forward. 

A sample letter is attached (more...)

Posted in Action Items, Brain Tumor Action Week

Representative Jan Schakowsky Champions National Brain Tumor Awareness Month

April 23, 2008

On April 22, 2008, Representative Jan Schakowsky, joined by Representative Peter Roskam, introduced H Res 1124, a resolution urging recognition of National Brain Tumor Awareness Month.  The resolution acknowledges the accomplishments of many brain tumor organizations in funding research and providing education and support services to brain tumor patients and their families.  It also urges the Congress to designate each May as National Brain Tumor Awareness Month.

The resolution has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and the committee will not report the resolution for full House action unless it enjoys the support of 100 Representatives.  The North American Brain Tumor Coalition will be actively seeking cosponsors of this resolution.

Please contact your Representatives immediately and ask that they join as cosponsors (more...)

Posted in Action Items, Advocacy Positions, Brain Tumor Action Week

NABTC Urges Senate Approval of Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act

April 23, 2008

The North American Brain Tumor Coalition joined other cancer advocacy organizations in urging the Senate to approve the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, or GINA.  This legislation would prohibit discrimination in insurance or employment on the basis of genetic information.  Although information about a person’s genetic profile may be useful in making health care decisions, many choose not to avail themselves of their genetic data out of fear that this information could be used to deny them health insurance or increase their rates or that it could affect their employment.  In a letter to the Senate, NABTC urged prompt action on the bill.  This legislation has already been approved by the House of Representatives by an overwhelming margin, and in previous (more...)

Posted in Advocacy Positions, General News

Advocates Plan Brain Tumor Action Week in Washington, DC on May 5 and 6

April 23, 2008

SPEAK UP FOR BRAIN TUMOR PATIENTS.  The North American Brain Tumor Coalition will converge in Washington, DC on May 5 and 6, 2008, to press the case for brain tumor research and care.  Despite the efforts of some of the world’s finest researchers to develop better therapies, individuals with brain tumors still do not have adequate treatment choices.  In fact, the outlook for brain tumor patients has not improved significantly in the last 20 years.  You can help change that situation by joining us in the fight for a stronger brain tumor research program — that means more federal dollars for brain tumor research, stronger support for translational and clinical brain tumor research programs, and enhanced collaboration among brain tumor researchers. 

 The (more...)

Posted in Brain Tumor Action Week

Tips for Congressional Visits

March 18, 2008

When the North American Brain Tumor Coalition makes visits to Congressional offices on May 6, some advocates will have significant experience in making Hill visits, while others will be newcomers.  The attached tips document may be useful to pros and novices alike.  Preparation for Hill visits will occur during the Brain Tumor Action Week education day on May 5, from 9 am to 5 pm, at the Washington Circle Hotel, but you may want to review the ”tips” document in advance of the training session.   For more information please see Tips for Congressional Visits.

Posted in Brain Tumor Action Week

Senate Approves Budget Adjustment for NIH; First Step in Long Battle to Boost NIH Funding

March 18, 2008

On March 13, the United States Senate, by an overwhelming vote of 95 to 4, approved an amendment to the budget resolution offered by Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA).  The Specter-Harkin amendment added $2.1 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to the Senate version of the budget resolution.  This amount is in addition to the $900 million already recommended for NIH by the Senate Budget Committee.    As a result of this positive Senate action, the NIH budget could be boosted by as much as $3 billion, or more than 10 percent, over FY 2008 levels.

 This action is only the first step in a long budget and appropriations process that is predicted to last into 2009.  It is not a certainty that (more...)

Posted in Advocacy Positions, General News, Spending Bills

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