KidneyCAN advocates from all over the United States met with their Congressional representatives to accomplish a number of goals:
- To speak as one voice and to have a clearly articulated “ask” of legislators based on the legislative priorities of the kidney cancer community.
- To build awareness of kidney cancer as a leading killer disease.
- To educate policymakers and staff on the impact of kidney cancer on individuals, caregivers, families, and other stakeholders.
- To thank representatives for supporting issues impacting the community.
- To represent the national kidney cancer community. To speak for those unable to speak or be present.
Our asks are based on input from the kidney cancer community – patients, caregivers, researchers, and medical providers – and our knowledge of the legislative and funding processes.
Right now, we’re seeing Congress hammer out what they’re calling a “Cromnibus” This is a term policymakers have given to a spending bill that combines a short-term continuing resolution (the “cr” part) for some federal programs and a long-term omnibus to cover all remaining federal spending.
The House of Representatives has already approved $50 million in funding for the Kidney Cancer Research Program in 2021, and now we’re waiting to see if the Senate comes through.
