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Memphis Cancer Survivor Lori Kuhuski Delivers Petition from Hundreds of Memphians Urging Increased Research Funding to Congressman Cohen

September 3, 2015

[MEMPHIS, TN] – In his Memphis office this afternoon, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) met with Cordova cancer survivor Lori Kuhuski and Bert Fayne from the American Cancer Society’s Mid-South Division to discuss federal research initiatives and accept their petition urging increased cancer research funding. The petition, which includes the signatures of 300 Memphians, is part of the “One Degree” initiative aimed at building a nationwide movement supporting cancer research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by highlighting that every American is just one degree away from someone with cancer. A photo of the meeting is available here.

“The likelihood of any one of us dying from a terrorist attack or weapon fired by a rogue nation is very slim, but the odds of suffering from disease are much more likely,” said Congressman Cohen. “One in two men and one in three women in this country will suffer from cancer at some point in their lives and there is a wide racial disparity in breast cancer outcomes in Memphis. While we more than adequately fund the Department of Defense, Congress has significantly cut funding for the NIH and for biomedical research, preventing critically important research for cures and treatments for cancer and other diseases like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, stroke, heart disease, and Parkinson’s. I was pleased to see Lori today, was happy to accept the ‘One Degree’ petition, and will continue to work in Congress to increase funding for critical medical research.”

“Everyone has a connection to cancer -- we’re all just One Degree away from a family member or friend who has fought the disease, and many of us have battled it ourselves,” said Ms. Kuhuski, a 27-year colon cancer survivor. “Today, I’m sharing One Degree cancer stories with Rep. Cohen, calling on Congress to make federal funding for cancer research a national priority. Despite progress against the disease, one person in this country still dies every minute from cancer. We must continue to stand together and fight back.”

Congressman Cohen, a polio survivor and the co-chair of the Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, is a leading voice in the U.S. House of Representatives for increasing funding for NIH research into cures and treatments for the world’s deadliest illnesses. He has long fought to reverse the devastating effects sequestration has had on biomedical research in America, especially on research funded and conducted by the NIH, and was a co-sponsor of the 21st Century Cures act that passed the House in July. In the 113th Congress, the Congressman led a coalition of nearly 50 U.S. Representatives in urging the reversal of a decade-long slide in support for the NIH and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that has left our nation less prepared to stop the spread of viral diseases and without cures or vaccines for some of the most deadly illnesses. The Congressman also introduced the Research First Act to increase NIH funding for research by more than $1.5 billion, after that funding had been cut by sequestration.

Last year, the Congressman launched his “Building a Healthier Memphis” series on wellness in the Ninth District with a panel discussion and educational session focused on the racial gap in breast cancer outcomes in Memphis.