Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-NY) visited India Home in Jamaica to receive an update on the South Asian Colon Cancer Health Initiative (SACCHI), a project he helped fund in 2022.
Suozzi secured $500,000 in grant funding for the initiative aimed at addressing health disparities among South Asian seniors in his district.
"South Asians are disproportionately affected by higher rates of colon cancer, especially among seniors in our community," said Suozzi. "The educational and outreach efforts of India Home to bridge these disparities, facilitate screening, and ultimately reduce colon cancer rates among South Asian seniors are unparalleled."
The SACCHI project, which ran from July 2023 to July 2024, used the funding to create educational materials in South Asian languages, host healthcare expert interviews, conduct physician engagement events, and facilitate cancer screenings. The project also evaluated the impact of its interventions on participants' health outcomes.
Suozzi noted that SACCHI was one of 15 community-funded projects totaling nearly $14 million that he helped secure in late 2022. The congressman has continued to advocate for his district, announcing earlier this year that more than $15 million had been included in the draft FY25 spending bills for local projects.
These funds will go toward equipment for the Glen Cove Police Department, sewage infrastructure improvements, and clean drinking water systems.Congress is still considering FY25 appropriations, which were extended through Dec 20, 2024.
"One of my top priorities in Congress has been to advocate for New York and make sure that my constituents in Long Island and Queens receive their fair share," said Suozzi. "This summer, I announced that as part of Congress's bipartisan funding process, over $15 million was preliminarily allocated to return to New York's Third Congressional District. I will keep working to bring back these and other tax dollars to our community."
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