ASCO Commends House Appropriations Committee for Prioritizing Cancer Research in FY27 Spending Bill
Key Insights
The House Appropriations Committee proposed $47.3 billion for NIH and $7.46 billion for NCI in FY27, representing increases of $100 million and $110 million respectively over FY26 levels.
ARPA-H funding was sustained at $1.5 billion, maintaining support for advanced health research initiatives alongside core cancer (search) research funding.
ASCO Board Chair Dr. Robin Zon acknowledged the bipartisan commitment but urged more robust funding to keep pace with scientific discovery and fully support the nation's research infrastructure.
The Association for Clinical Oncology (search) (ASCO) has commended the House Appropriations Committee for prioritizing cancer (search) research in the fiscal year (FY) 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) spending bill, while urging lawmakers to pursue more robust funding to match the pace of scientific discovery.
The committee convened on June 9, 2026, to mark up the LHHS bill, which currently allocates $47.3 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) — a $100 million increase over FY 2026 funding — and $7.46 billion for the National Cancer Institute (NCI), reflecting a $110 million increase. Appropriators also sustained $1.5 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (search) (ARPA-H).
Bipartisan Commitment to Cancer (search) Research
Association for Clinical Oncology (search) Board Chair Robin Zon, MD, FACP, FASCO, issued a statement acknowledging the committee's continued bipartisan support for medical research. "Congress has long recognized that medical research is a national priority, and we appreciate that the Committee's proposed funding bill maintains a bipartisan commitment to the NIH and NCI," Dr. Zon stated.
Dr. Zon highlighted the tangible returns on federal investment, noting that "there are a record 18 million cancer (search) survivors alive in the United States today, a milestone made possible because lawmakers have historically chosen to prioritize clinical innovation and the foundational research that makes new treatments possible."
Call for Sustained, Robust Funding
While expressing gratitude for the proposed increases, ASCO urged lawmakers to consider more substantial funding levels. "While we are grateful for the proposed increases for FY27, we urge support for more robust funding to keep pace with scientific discovery and fully support the nation's research infrastructure," Dr. Zon said.
She cautioned that "advancements do not happen overnight, nor do they thrive on near-flat funding. Discovery requires deep, sustained commitment from Congress, year after year."
Looking Ahead in the Appropriations Process
ASCO called on committee members to protect the proposed increases and expressed readiness to collaborate with lawmakers in both chambers as the appropriations process advances. "At the end of the day, every dollar appropriated is a direct investment in the patients we serve, and our federal budget must show we are committed to transforming hope into healing for every person facing a cancer (search) diagnosis," Dr. Zon concluded.