U.S. Senate Approves Funding For Cancer Cluster Law

Health problems linked to environmental issues will get federal attention under funding legislation approved this week by the U.S. Senate.

Agencies including Health and Human Services would receive money to coordinate clean up, mitigation and response efforts in places like East Chicago and Franklin, Indiana.  

U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) co-authored a $1 million amendment for the implementation of Trevor’s Law, a measure passed in 2016 to aid the investigation of cancer clusters.  

Donnelly spoke on the Senate floor and says families in Franklin, who are worried about toxins impacting their children’s health, would benefit. 

"So we can leverage every bit of knowledge and research and expertise and ingenuity to make sure our communities are safe places to raise our families," says Donnelly. 

The legislation would double Centers for Disease Control funding to help reduce lead poisoning.