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

Colfax resident and lung cancer advocate, Susanne Landgrebe, met with her members of Congress today in Washington, D.C. during the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day. As a part of the nationwide event, Landgrebe joined more than 40 other people 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.

As a nurse practitioner in Iowa, she has seen first-hand how lung diseases affect her patients. But it wasn't until her sister, Sharon's stage IV lung cancer diagnosis in 2011 that her mission to advocate for lung cancer awareness and research funding became even more personal. After Sharon lost her battle with lung cancer in 2015, Landgrebe became determined to continue her sister's legacy by raising awareness and advocating for better care for lung cancer patients.

“I want to do all I can to increase funding for research, awareness and treatment for lung cancer. I work to achieve this goal in my medical practice, and hope to improve this in Washington, DC as well, and be an advocate for the state of Iowa.”

During Advocacy Day, Landgrebe honored her sister’s memory by speaking with Congressman Zach Nunn to share her personal experience with lung cancer and explain why investments in public health are important to her.

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.

Landgrebe, encourages others in Iowa 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 Landgrebe’s story and the LUNG FORCE initiative at LUNGFORCE.org