I received the March newsletter a couple of weeks ago, and I wanted to highlight some of the important things we have done as a group for cancer research and prevention.
1 - ACS CAN held an event at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA to rally for congress to support the funding of the National Institutes of Health. They were joined by Congressman Jim McDermott, and the even emphasized that federal funding for cancer research doesn't just lead to medical breakthroughs, it also creates jobs and stabilizes local economies. Food for thought in these current economic times. You can read more about the event and view pictures here.
2 - We did it! When ACS CAN learned that the insurance industry opposed making it easier for consumers to understand health insurance plans, volunteers jumped into action. The White House announced new rules regarding simple, straightforward benefits information from health insurance companies. This will help consumers compare plans and prices.
3 - During the State of the Union address, the President said "Innovation also demands basic research. Today, the discoveries taking place in our federally-financed labs and universities could lead to new treatments that kill cancer cells but leave healthy ones untouched." - President Barack Obama. Unfortunately, he also cut funding for research, rather than increasing it. You can view videos on the ACS CAN YouTube channel regarding the State of the Union Address and an analysis of the budget proposal from the White House. The US House is expected to release their budget shortly.
And two calls to action:
As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Big Tobacco is lobbying to have certain cigars exempted from FDA tobacco regulations. Specifically, more than 150 Members of Congress have cosponsored a bill that will allow tobacco companies to continue selling flavored cigars and also ban the FDA from requiring the health-related warnings we see on packs of cigarettes. If you're like me and you think this is a bad idea, send a message to Congress. We don't need to make tobacco products more attractive to children.
Also, the US House of Representatives is talking about cutting the budget even further. They are considering cuts in programs preventing kids from smoking, and programs that help kids and adults QUIT smoking. We need to let them know these programs are saving lives. They need to know that we can't fight billions from the tobacco industry with pennies. We need a fair fight. They voted on Thursday, but this isn't over. Let your representative know this is not okay!
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