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Today: Colorado Lung Cancer Advocate Travels to Washington, D.C. to Ask Congress for Increased Research Funding

Nick Torres joined volunteers from across the nation to ask members of Congress to take action against lung cancer

DENVER, CO | March 29, 2023

Today, Colorado resident and lung cancer advocate Nick Torres met with his members of Congress in Washington, D.C. during the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day.

As part of the nationwide event, he joined more than 40 other people from across the country who have been impacted by lung cancer to$51 billion in research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $11.6 billion in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and support and protect Medicaid.

During Advocacy Day, Torres spoke with the offices of Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Representatives Jason Crow and Joe Neguse to share his personal experience with lung cancer and explain why investments in public health, research funding and quality and affordable healthcare are important to his.
 
The Lung Association launched LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day in 2016 to ask members of Congress to support federal funding increases for lung cancer research, prevention and quality and affordable healthcare.

As a part of Advocacy Day, LUNG FORCE Heroes have succeeded in helping increase NIH lung cancer research funding by over 115%.

In 2022, Heroes successfully urged Congress to extend funding for tax credits so more than three million Americans were able to keep affordable healthcare coverage through the federal and state marketplaces.

Torres encourages others in Colorado to advocate for lung cancer research and healthcare protections by contacting their members of Congress, which they can do at Lung.org/AdvocacyDay. Learn more about the LUNG FORCE initiative at LUNGFORCE.org.

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About the American Lung Association

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org. To support the work of the American Lung Association, find a local event at Lung.org/events.

For more information, contact:

James A. Martinez
(312) 445-2501
[email protected]

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