House Committee Approves Amended Bill On Research On Environmental Effects Of Breast Cancer

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Article Date: 25 Sep 2008 - 5:00 PST

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House Committee Approves Amended Bill on Research on Environmental Effects of Breast Cancer
A bill (HR 1157) that would increase federal funding and research into understanding the environmental causes of breast cancer was amended on Tuesday by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, CQ Today reports. The original bill -- titled the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2007 and sponsored by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) -- would have provided NIH with $40 million to establish and run "Centers of Excellence" around the country dedicated to research into the environmental causes of breast cancer.

However, some members of the committee objected, arguing that federally funded scientists should not decide how to direct research into specific diseases such as breast cancer. As a result of the objections, Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), chair of the committee, agreed to amend the bill to instead create a panel to monitor and coordinate the federally funded breast cancer research efforts, as well as recommend different scientific inquiries. The amended bill still would authorize $40 million in additional NIH funding through 2012, but the measure does not specify how the money will be allocated. The committee approved the amended measure by voice vote (Wayne, CQ Today, 9/23).

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