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Today: Lung Cancer Advocate Meets Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. to Ask Congress for Increased Research Funding for Kansas

Sara Prem will join volunteers from across the nation to ask members of Congress to take action against lung cancer

KANSAS CITY, KS | March 29, 2023

Lung cancer advocate, Sara Prem of Overland Park, met with Kansas members of Congress today during the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. As a part of the nationwide event, Prem joined more than 40 other Lung Force Heroes from across the country who have been impacted by lung cancer to ask lawmakers to support $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 to support and protect Medicaid.

During Advocacy Day, Prem, along with Harold Wimmer, National President, and CEO of the American Lung Association, met with U.S. Congresswoman Sharice Davids. Prem also visited the office of U.S. Senator Roger Marshall where she met with staffers and is scheduled to meet with U.S. Senator Jerry Moran’s staff tomorrow to explain why investments in public health, research funding and affordable healthcare are important.

The American Lung Association launched LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day in 2016 to ask members of Congress to support robust, sustainable, and predictable 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%. Since 2016, more than 50new therapies have been approved by the FDA to treat lung cancer—giving more hope to those impacted by this disease.

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.

Prem encourages others in Kansas to advocate for lung cancer research and healthcare protections by contacting their members of Congress, which they can do at Lung.org/AdvocacyDay. To learn more about the LUNG FORCE initiative visit 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:

Janye Killelea
312-940-7624
[email protected]

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