Legislation sponsored by Senators Robert Singer and Anthony Bucco that provides more tax revenue from tobacco products to the New Jersey Cancer Research Fund was approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
“Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in New Jersey and the lingering effects of the pandemic have only exacerbated the situation by reducing access to clinical trials and closing laboratories,” said Singer (R-30). “The additional funding and support provided by this bill will allow researchers to investigate new cancer treatments and new ways of preventing this insidious disease that has affected the lives of millions of people.”
The legislation, S-929, would increase the amount of cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues provided to the New Jersey Cancer Research Fund to $10 million—with $5 million to fund general cancer research and $5 million to fund pediatric cancer research.
“As cancer rates have continued to rise in New Jersey, the impact on society—as well as the families of those affected—has been devastating,” said Bucco (R-25). “With better-funded research, we can improve treatments and survival rates to ensure that luck is no longer a factor in deciding which people with cancer will have an opportunity to live full lives. Funding research today will help us save lives tomorrow.”
An estimated 55,000 residents are diagnosed with cancer annually, of which nearly 16,000 die. Nearly half of all new cancer cases are comprised of prostate, breast, lung, and colorectal cancers.