108th Congress

Taxpayers’ Cancer Research Funding Act of 2003

H.R. 1692

Background

During the past several congressional sessions, Members of Congress have introduced legislation that would have added a checkbox to tax returns to allow individuals to donate money for various causes, including biomedical research on certain diseases. Representative Peter King (R-NY) has introduced legislation to provide additional funding for breast and prostate cancer research in this way since the 104th Congress.

Provisions of the Legislation/Impact on NIH

Taxpayers would have been able to designate $5 ($10 for joint returns) for the Breast and Prostate Cancer Research Fund, which would have been established in the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Money from the fund would have been used to finance qualified research grants. A qualified research grant was defined as “a grant, to a qualified person selected by the National Cancer Institute by qualified peer review, for the purpose of conducting research with respect to breast or prostate cancer. Such a grant shall be administered by the National Cancer Institute and the amount of such grant shall be determined by such Institute.”

Status and Outlook

H.R. 1692 was introduced by Representative King on April 9, 2003, and was jointly referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and on Ways and Means. No further action occurred on this legislation during the 108th Congress.