The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) was created in 2009 and authorized $3 billion in general obligation bonds to provide grants for cancer research, prevention and control programs in Texas.
In that last 10 years, CPRIT has issued $2.26 billion in grants. In 2019 alone, $48 million went to research and prevention of breast cancer. Per the Texas House Research Organization, the state is projected to run out of bonds for CPRIT between 2020 and 2022.
In the spring legislative session, there was broad bipartisan support for renewing funding for CPRIT. As a result, Proposition 6, the constitutional amendment to reauthorize CPRIT, will be on the November 5th ballot. Passage will allow the Texas State Legislature to increase the maximum amount of bonds for CPRIT from $3 billion to $6 billion, limiting the state to issuing $300 million for CPRIT per year.
With CPRIT funding approximately $300 million a year for Texas programs serving low income people needing cancer screening and care, and with the changes in Title X funding for women’s health, this money is even more important in providing screening and care to those who otherwise would not be able to afford it.
The Texas Cancer Partnership, a coalition of organizations in Texas with the shared goal of ending cancer, is driving a comprehensive effort to urge 1 million voters to approve $3 billion in new bond funding for CPRIT.
Texas Women’s Foundation is in support of this amendment and has joined with the Texas Cancer Partnership. We ask you, our Army of Advocates, to encourage others to get out and vote on November 5th in support of Proposition 6.
For information about CPRIT, please visit www.cprit.texas.gov
If you’re not registered to vote, click here (insert link in the word here, https://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/you-must-register-by.html) to find out how and where to register. The deadline to register to be eligible for the November 5th ballot is October 7th!
As always, thank you for being a part of Texas Women’s Foundation’s Army of Advocates! Please share this information with others to also get involved.