"For the loved ones we’ve all lost, for the families that we can still save, let’s make America the country that cures cancer once and for all. What do you say, Joe?" President Obama asked. (Video via the White House)
President Obama has announced how he plans to follow through on the promise he made during his State of the Union address to ramp up efforts to eradicate cancer.
The White House’s first budget proposal for the 2017 fiscal year is a $755 million package to fund cancer research.
That's a huge bump up from the $195 million the White House said it will commit this year to the effort led by Vice President Joe Biden. (Video via the White House)
The money will go to fund research efforts to develop new treatments, as well as aiding in early detection and immunotherapy.
While the nearly $1 billion boost sounds like a lot, those in charge of the effort aren’t expecting results anytime soon, but White House press secretary Josh Earnest says it’s still an important step to take. (Video via the White House)
"This is part of the essential work that’s necessary to lay the groundwork for a cure," Earnest said.
Biden has echoed that sentiment, saying, "Our job is to clear out the bureaucratic hurdles — and let science happen." And there's reason to be optimistic that it could work. (Video via the White House)
The Republican-controlled Congress added $264 million to the National Cancer Institute’s 2016 budget within a $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health.
