Cancer Surveillance Finds Success with Federal Funding in the US Senate Appropriations Committee
Alexandria, VA, July 31, 2025 - The US Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing support to strengthen America's workforce and fund important health and education programs. NCRA is thrilled to announce that this package includes $53.4M for the CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) for FY 2026.
While this is flat funding from the current FY, it is a remarkable achievement given that the Administration's budget proposal for FY 2026 was to eliminate funding for the NPCR completely. Additional positive news also came out of the vote today for the cancer programs at the National Institutes of Health which was facing a 40% cut in the Administration's FY2026 budget but instead will receive an increase in funding. Specifically, the NCI budget was approved with an increase of $150 million over FY25.
"As overjoyed as we are to see the Senate Appropriations Committee, in bipartisan fashion, make a strong statement about the vital role of cancer surveillance in America, we remain guarded as the House of Representative's has yet to offer its amendments to the Administration's FY 2026 budget proposal. That effort in the House was recently postponed until September so we will need to work to encourage the Representatives to support cancer surveillance in a similar fashion at both CDC and NCI" said Lori Swain, Executive Director of the National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA). NCRA has played an active role in educating Congress on the importance of cancer surveillance since the Administration's FY 2026 budget was released in May. Through collaborating with partners and support of over 100 volunteers, NCRA believes its messages to reinstate funding to continue support of CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR), and to remove the 40% reduction proposed in FY'26 for NIH to fully support the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (SEER) are resonating with members of Congress.
NCRA will release more information on the appropriation details as they become available. Meanwhile, the Senate Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 2026 can be read here.
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About the National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA):
NCRA is a non-profit organization that represents over 7,000 cancer registry professionals. The mission of NCRA is to empower and advance registry professionals through innovations in education, advocacy, credentialing, and strategic partnerships. Cancer registrars are data information specialists who capture a complete history, diagnosis, treatment, and health status for every cancer patient in the U.S. The data provides essential information to researchers, healthcare providers, and public health officials to better monitor and advance cancer treatments, conduct research, and improve cancer prevention and screening programs. For more information about NCRA, visit www.ncra-usa.org and www.CancerRegistryEducation.org.
Lori A. Swain, MS
Executive Director
National Cancer Registrars Association &
NCRA Education Foundation
1330 Braddock Place; Suite 520
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-299-6640 x 313
Fax: 703-299-6620
lswain@ncra-usa.org
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