109th Congress

Cancer Survivorship Research and Quality of Life Act of 2006

H.R. 5390

Background

According to congressional findings, there are more than 10 million cancer survivors in the United States. Recognizing that large numbers of individuals are surviving cancer for longer periods of time, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) administratively established the Office of Cancer Survivorship (OCS) in 1996. OCS supports and promotes research that examines and addresses the long-term and short-term effects of cancer and its treatment; provides information to cancer patients and their families, health care providers, advocates, and the research community; conducts meetings with researchers, health professionals, advocacy groups, and the public to build common research agendas and ensure dissemination of research findings; and conducts an annual analysis of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/U.S. Department of Defense grants pertaining to cancer survivorship.

During the 107th Congress, cancer survivorship was included in four broad cancer bills, and Representative Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) introduced a freestanding bill dedicated solely to the issue. Legislation introduced in the 108th Congress was similar to Representative Hoyer's legislation, the most significant difference being that the amount NCI would have been required to spend on cancer survivorship research was no longer specified. Other legislation introduced in the 108th Congress that contained survivorship language included S. 2771, the Quality of Care for Individuals With Cancer Act, and S. 1101/H.R. 2741 and S. 1899, each entitled the National Cancer Act. In addition, Representative Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced freestanding legislation in the 108th Congress (H.R. 2986) that is similar to the legislation described below.

Provisions of the Legislation/Impact on NIH

Section 3 of H.R. 5390, the Cancer Survivorship Research and Quality of Life Act of 2006, would amend NCI's cancer control program to include cancer survivorship research activities. Section 4 of the bill would add a new section to NCI's statute requiring the Director of NIH to:

• Expand and coordinate the Agency's cancer survivorship research activities
• Establish cancer survivorship research priorities, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and nonprofit organizations
• Establish a Division of Cancer Survivorship within NCI
• Expand and coordinate cancer survivorship research activities at NCI-designated cancer centers. Within the NCI-designated cancer centers, the Director of NIH would be tasked with establishing or improving Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Centers. These centers would serve as a comprehensive source of information, care, and services for cancer survivors, family members, and service providers. The Director of NIH would also be charged with evaluating models of survivorship care within NCI-designated cancer centers.

Section 4 would also earmark not less than $50 million of NCI's budget each fiscal year (FY) for cancer survivorship research. The legislation would also authorize appropriations of $61 million for each of the FYs 2007 through 2011 to NCI-designated cancer centers' cancer survivorship research activities and to Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Centers.

Section 5 would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and CDC to expand and update the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program. Among the provisions in this section, the Secretary of HHS, acting through CDC and the NCI Division of Cancer Survivorship, would be required to study the unique health challenges associated with cancer survivorship and carry out projects and interventions to improve the long-term health status of cancer survivors.

Section 6 would require CDC and NCI to award grants to monitor and evaluate quality cancer care. This section would authorize $5 million for each of the FYs 2007 through 2011 for this grant program.

Section 7 would require the Secretary of HHS to establish a National Commission on Cancer Survivorship to coordinate U.S. Department of Health and Human Services cancer survivorship activities with other governmental agencies and private entities.

Status and Outlook

H.R. 5390 was introduced by Representative Wicker on May 16, 2006, and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. No further action has occurred on this legislation.