(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblymen John McKeon and Joseph Cryan sponsored to establish the New Jersey Lung Cancer Research Fund and allow voluntary contributions to the fund by taxpayers on state gross income tax returns was released today by an Assembly panel.

“In 2008, an estimated 215,000 individuals nationwide were diagnosed with lung cancer,” said McKeon (D-Essex.) “More people die of lung cancerthan of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. Making it an option for a voluntary contribution to donate to this cause could save countless lives”