Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), a longtime strong proponent of medical research at the National Institutes of Health, met with members of the American Cancer Society (ACS) on Monday, June 8 at his Hamilton, N.J. Fourth Congressional District Office.
 
    The Congressman met with two ACS advocacy leaders, Wendi Silverberg of Manalapan and Helaine Rothman of Red Bank, both part of the ACS Cancer Action Network. They thanked Smith for co-sponsoring the “Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act,”  and discussed funding for the National Cancer Institute, palliative care legislation, hospice and other federal issues related to cancer that are expected to be before the 114th Congress.

    Smith shared his own experiences with loved ones who fought cancer, his positive experiences and views on hospice, and his own adult stem cell research legislation, "The Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act," enacted into law in 2005 (PL-109-129). The law created cord blood banks used in research on leukemia and other cancers, cerebral palsy, lupus, diabetes and a number of genetic diseases. Smith's original legislation was later reauthorized by the House in September 2010 as the "Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2010." The bill passed unanimously and was enacted into law.

    "I thank the Cancer Action Network for its work across the country to fight this terrible disease," Smith said. "At one time or another cancer has probably taken or will take loved ones from nearly every American. The answer is research, research and more research, as well as early detection and treatment. And the American Cancer Society is at the forefront of advocating for it all."


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