Legislative Testimony

On May 20, 2010, Michelle Fried Galvanek, a volunteer with the National Capitol Chapter, testifies on behalf of LLS and blood cancer patients before the House Appropriations Committee to urge increased funding for blood cancer research at the Department of Defense. 

"From a medical research perspective, it is a particularly promising time to build a DoD research effort focused on blood-related cancers. That relevance and opportunity were recognized for a six year period when Congress appropriated $4.5 million annually – for a total of $28 million -- to begin initial research into chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP)."

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In June 2009, George Dahlman, senior vice president, LLS Office of Public Policy, was asked to testify before the U.S. Senate Appropriation Subcommittee on Defense on behalf of LLS for the Blood Cancer Research Program at the Department of Defense (DoD)

"DoD research on blood cancers addresses the importance of preparing for civilian and military exposure to the weapons being developed by several hostile nations and to aid in the march to more effective treatment for all who suffer from these diseases. This request clearly has merit for inclusion in the FY 2010 legislation."

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George Dahlman, senior vice president, LLS Office of Public Policy, delivered legislative testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Labor, Health and Human Services and Education on April 21, 2005. His message: strenghthen congressional funding for cancer research.

"For treatment of the blood cancers, the last decade has yielded a targeted therapy, two radioimmunotherapies, a monoclonal antibody, a proteasome inhibitor, and several new cytotoxic drugs.

"Even with these impressive improvements in treatment, the blood cancers still pose a serious burden. Almost 115,000 Americans will be diagnosed with one of the blood cancers in 2005, and more than 54,000 will die from one of these diseases. The five-year survival rate for those with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is 59 percent, and for those with multiple myeloma the five-year survival rate is only 32 percent. For survivors and their families, these numbers are not acceptable."

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