(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The House of Representatives today passed an amendment introduced by Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) to H.R. 3219, the Make America Secure Appropriations Act of 2018, which came out of the House today. Raskin’s amendment was included in the legislation in an ‘en bloc’ amendment that earned strong bipartisan support.

Raskin’s amendment provided a $10 million increase in funding for the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) within the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC), located at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland. The Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program supports competitively-awarded grants for research into cancer, including: brain cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, melanoma, mesothelioma, and more. The PRCRP faced a 50% cut in the FY18 appropriations bill approved by the committee.

“I’m thrilled that we were able to secure a $10 million increase for the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program, which performs invaluable research into cancer prevention, detection, and treatment,” said Raskin. “I was proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reach a bipartisan compromise with the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense to increase funding for this program.”

Raskin, who spent 18 months battling colon cancer in 2010-11, spoke about how moved he was that this was his first amendment to pass on the House floor: “As a cancer survivor and the Congressman who represents so many hard-working researchers, military personnel and public servants at Fort Detrick, I am very proud to see this appropriations amendment boost resources where they are so desperately needed. The PRCRP will continue to advance critically important cancer research, and make all the difference in the world to servicemembers, their families, and indeed, all Americans.”

“I will continue to champion medical research and look forward to working with the Senate to ensure that PRCRP is fully-funded,” Raskin added.

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Congressman Jamie Raskin represents Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, which includes Montgomery, Frederick, and Carroll counties. He is the Vice Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, a Senior Democratic Whip, and Freshman Representative to the House Democratic Steering & Policy Committee. He also serves on the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee and the Committee on House Administration.