U.S. senators call for update of national cancer access act

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.) introduced the 21st Century Cancer Access to Life-saving Early detection, Research and Treatment Act. The goal of the ALERT Act is to modernize and advance the national cancer program in the U.S.

The ALERT Act will provide funding for promising research in early detection, supply grants for screening, and make referrals for treatment. The bill is an update on the National Cancer Act of 1971 and is intended to bring a renewed focus on research and prevention.

The senators asked key stakeholders, such as the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), for input in identifying challenges in cancer research and to help craft legislation to present solutions for the pandemic.

The ALERT Act represents a critical step in modernizing the national cancer program, said Margaret Foti, PhD, MD, chief executive officer of AACR.