LCA News:

LCA Statement on the Death of Congresswoman Carson

December 17, 2007--Lung Cancer Alliance offers its condolences to the family, staff and friends of Congresswoman Julia Carson (D-IN) who died December 15, 2007 of lung cancer at age 69.

Congresswoman Carson is the second Member of Congress to die this year of lung cancer. Congressman Charles Norwood (R-GA) died February 13, 2007 at age 66. 

Both had earned the respect of their colleagues in the House of Representatives. Carson, first elected in 1996, was a consistent advocate for the poor and disadvantaged. Norwood, elected in 1994, was the original sponsor of the Patients Bill of Rights.

Congresswoman Carson and Congressman Norwood died of a failed public health policy.

It would be a fitting tribute to these members if Congress would now hold public hearings on how to reverse the decades of underfunding, stigma and neglect of lung cancer by our health research agencies that has allowed lung cancer to take more lives each year than breast, prostate, colon, kidney, melanoma and kidney cancers combined.

Yes, both the House and the Senate unanimously passed bipartisan resolutions on lung cancer as a public health priority this year. Yes, the resolutions lay out a coordinated plan of action to reduce lung cancer's 85% mortality rate.

Now we need action.

No more excuses. No more lung cancer.