2011 marks the 7th year of the release of the National Report Card, which is issued each November during Lung Cancer Awareness Month to help bring national focus and attention to the disease and gage progress in the fight against lung cancer. The 2011 National Report Card is distributed to leading public health and policy makers, media and elected officials.

In the past two months, 20 more national and international groups have publicly come out in support of the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act (LCMRA), and more members of both Houses of Congress have signed on as co-sponsors to the legislation, which now total 20 in the U.S. Senate and 28 in the House of Representatives.

The legislation, S. 752 and H.R. 1394, re-introduced in the new Congress earlier this year, is the first-ever calling for a coordinated and comprehensive federal plan to address all aspects of lung cancer.

So when both chambers of Congress passed patent-reform bills this year to streamline U.S. patent law with overwhelming, bipartisan support, including Congressman Cory Gardner, I was thrilled. Now patent reform must be signed into law by President Barack Obama .

America is facing so many challenges at home and abroad, so why is patent reform a priority? Two reasons: (1) It is critical to our nation’s economic competitiveness, and (2) your life may depend on it.

A stronger U.S. patent system is crucial to our global economic competitiveness in all industries, especially in medical innovation. With a streamlined patent system, American inventors will have the incentives and protections necessary to drive innovation, create jobs and stimulate the economy.

WASHINGTON, July 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Today, Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) commended Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) for endorsing the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act, a bi-partisan bi-cameral bill that establishes a multi-agency, comprehensive research program targeted at all aspects of lung cancer.

After recent meetings in Washington, D.C. with LCA President & CEO Laurie Fenton Ambrose and LCA-Washington Chapter Chair, Cecilia Izzo, Senator Cantwell joined as co-sponsor of Senate Bill S.752. She was also a co-sponsor of its predecessor, S.322.

“It is so exciting to see momentum continue to build in support of a national plan of action for lung cancer,” said Laurie Fenton Ambrose, President & CEO of LCA. “The willingness of Senator Cantwell to join other Senate and House colleagues and call for greater compassion, increased resources and a comprehensive plan for lung cancer – is what will ultimately end the disease as we know it.”

“Cancer doesn’t care if you’re Republican or Democrat, rich or poor, young or old,” Armstrong said in an interview.

The cyclist, who became a cancer activist and fundraiser after his battle with testicular cancer – a challenge chronicled in his best-selling memoir, “It’s Not About the Bike” – is co-chairing the California Cancer Research Act. The ballot measure is sponsored by former state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, another cancer survivor.

I recently have learned that both Snowe and Pingree have agreed to co-sponsor this history-making piece of legislation. Congressman Mike Michaud signed on as co-sponsor after I spoke with him last fall.

Maine is surely leading the way on this crucial piece of legislation, which is in both the House and Senate and calls for a 50 percent reduction in the mortality of lung cancer by 2016.

As introduced by Omaha Sen. Bob Krist, LB987 would have required the state Department of Veterans Affairs to contract with the University of Nebraska Medical Center for a study to validate diagnostic technology for the early detection of lung cancer. To fund the study, a transfer of $650,000 to the department from the Nebraska Health Care Cash Fund was proposed.