Reps Nolan, LoBiondo, Capps Establish Lung Cancer Caucus

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Reps Rick Nolan (MN-8), Congressman Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02) and Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-24) announced the establishment of their bipartisan Congressional Lung Cancer Caucus. Nolan spearheaded the effort to create the caucus after his youngest daughter, Katherine Nolan-Bensen, was diagnosed with stage 4 non-smoking lung cancer earlier this year.
The caucus will serve as a clearinghouse of information to aid Members of Congress in their understanding of the issues surrounding those who are living with and those who are at risk for lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in men and women, across every ethnic group and those who serve in the military. The Lung Cancer Caucus will help to educate and inform Members on issues specifically related to eliminating the stigma, reducing mortality, improving survivorship, furthering research and ensuring equitable access to preventive screening, treatments, diagnostics and testing.
“Lung cancer is a terrible disease that has affected so many families, including my own,” Nolan said. “I am proud to stand with my colleagues Representatives Frank LoBiondo and Lois Capps in taking an important step toward improving understanding of lung cancer and eradicating the stigma that surrounds it.”
“Lung cancer is a devastating disease that impacts millions of individuals and their families each year. This issue is deeply personal to me and my wife Tina, who lost both of her parents to the disease. Working together with my colleagues, we seek to bring greater attention and support at large for more research and better treatments of lung cancer,” LoBiondo said.
“Lung cancer continues to take far too many lives, which is why I am proud to join my colleagues to form the bipartisan Congressional Lung Cancer Caucus. Together we will continue our efforts to educate our colleagues, while supporting advances in lung cancer care and those affected by this disease,” Capps said.
Lung Cancer Alliance also praised the creation of the new Lung Cancer Caucus:
“We applaud Congressman Nolan, Congressman LoBiondo and Congresswoman Capps for taking action on an issue that impacts so many,” said Laurie Fenton Ambrose, President and CEO of Lung Cancer Alliance. “We are so proud to work with the Caucus to continue raising the profile of lung cancer to a level where positive, meaningful change can occur for the disease. We stand ready to support the Lung Cancer Caucus moving forward.”
Lung Cancer Alliance is the oldest and leading non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives and advancing research by empowering those living with and at risk for lung cancer.