Critical Breast Cancer Program Receives Funding Increase Under House Appropriations Bill

Susan G. Komen^(R) urges passage before end of current fiscal year

The House Committee on Appropriations has advanced the funding bill for programs within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for fiscal year 2026 (FY26). Susan G. Komen's Center for Public Policy applauds the Committee for increasing funding for critical breast cancer programs as well as increased support for our nation's investment in biomedical research.

Komen thanks the Committee for providing:  

• $206.4 million (a $5.5 million increase from FY25) for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), a vital safety net program that has provided access to breast health services for millions of women without adequate health insurance. Since 1991, NBCCEDP-funded programs have served more than 6.5 million women, diagnosing nearly 90,000 invasive breast cancers and over 25,000 premalignant breast lesions.   

• $46.9 billion (a $99 million increase from FY25) for the National Institutes of Health base funding, including $7.3 billion for the National Cancer Institute (a $48 million increase from FY25), which have played a role in every major cancer prevention, detection and treatment advance, while also delivering scientific breakthroughs for many other diseases for decades. 

Komen has been actively advocating for decades to maximize funding for these programs and will continue to do as the House and Senate proceed with FY26 negotiations as the September 30 funding deadline looms. Today's committee action highlights the collective power of the voices of breast cancer advocates across the country.

While Komen applauds the Committee's support of NBCCEDP and NCI, we are disappointed that the bill also contains cuts which could harm public health and biomedical research. Komen urges the Committee to reconsider the significant cuts to other critical programs under HHS including at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Breast cancer patients today - and all those who may be diagnosed in the future - depend on robust federal investments in these programs and we hope that the final FY26 appropriations bills continue this critical support.  

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