​Highlights include ACS CAN's Leadership Summit and Lobby Day, Cancer Votes, and Lights of Hope.

A message from ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse

ACS CAN's Leadership Summit and Lobby Day (LS&LD) is just around the corner, and this year, we are proud to host our largest event yet! From September 15-18th, we will welcome close to 750 advocates from across the country for dynamic days of training and advocacy in our nation's capital. 

LS&LD provides an opportunity to unite nationwide volunteers and invest in their advocacy skills development and knowledge of our key priorities. It also builds strategic momentum toward our federal legislative agenda, elevating specific requests for every member of Congress on Lobby Day. Our priority asks of Congress this year focus on increasing cancer research funding and supporting bipartisan, bicameral multi-cancer early detection (MCED) legislation. Additionally, volunteers will note ACS CAN's support of extending critical Affordable Care Act enhanced tax credits that are set to expire in 2025. These enhanced tax credits currently make health care insurance more affordable for millions.

LS&LD will kick off Sunday, September 15, starting with Affinity Row, an opportunity for ACS CAN volunteer affinity groups to show the impact they've been making across the country and introduce themselves to new volunteers. Please be sure to visit – there's much to learn from these volunteer communities who are working to ensure ACS CAN engages everyone in the fight against cancer. That evening, we will celebrate awardees at our annual National Advocacy Leadership Awards Dinner, honoring the remarkable work of our volunteers and colleagues since last September. 

On Monday, we dive into our Leadership Summit: a full day of keynotes, general sessions, and breakouts to prepare for Hill visits with lawmakers urging support for our key "asks" for this year. The annual CAN Opener, our ticketed dinner and dancing fundraiser, is on Monday night; if you haven't yet bought your ticket, please do so here. 

Tuesday is prime time as we execute our Lobby Day, heading to Capitol Hill to elevate our issues in Congressional offices with the mighty power of our blue shirts! That night, participants will gather to honor and remember our loved ones during our display of Lights of Hope at Constitution Gardens on the National Mall. Finally, on Wednesday, we will round out with the President's Recognition Ceremony and closing sessions. 

We are honored to have special guests joining us, including this year's keynote speaker, author, artist, advocate, and cancer survivor Suleika Jaouad, NCI Director Dr. Kimryn Rathmell, National Distinguished Advocacy Award (NDAA) winners, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), MN Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) and CO Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera (D).

I invite you to follow along with what will be an impactful few days in the fight against cancer by searching #CancerLobbyDay and #LightsOfHope on social media. Please be sure to amplify on your channels. I look forward to sharing highlights in a Special Edition Update and seeing those traveling to D.C. in less than two weeks. 

Thanks as always for your support.

Cancer Votes Update: 

New Poll: As part of our national Cancer Votes campaign, ACS CAN released a poll this month showing inflation and the cost of living was the most important issue on voters' minds, with the affordability of health insurance being the top health care issue. A majority of voters said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supported policies requiring health plans to cover cancer screenings with no out-of-pocket costs. Voters also expressed concerns about the costs of medical debt, with 53% reporting that they or an immediate family member currently has medical debt.

The poll findings also showed that 78% of voters were more likely to vote for a candidate who supported making permanent the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) enhanced tax credits. The policy proposal had the support of majorities of registered Republican, Independent and Democrat respondents. Public Opinion Strategies and Hart Research conducted the poll. Read our full release.

Candidate Coffee Chats: In Nevada, Cancer Votes volunteers hosted a coffee chat with U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D) in partnership with Mi Familia Vota, an organization with the mission of building Latino voting power. Watch this video recap from a volunteer, Samantha Gonzales-Russell, who attended the event. Samantha and our Cancer Votes National Ambassador, Phil O'Brien were also featured in a TV interview about our latest poll. 

In New Jersey, Cancer Votes volunteers hosted coffee chats with the candidates for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, Susan Altman (D) and Congressman Tom Kean (R). And in New York, Cancer Votes volunteers hosted coffee chats with the candidates for New York's 17th Congressional District, Mondaire Jones (D) and Congressman Mike Lawler (R). ACS CAN Board Vice Chair, John Manna, moderated the discussions. 

In Case You Missed It: 

Lights of Hope 2024 fundraisers have been hard at work around the country. For those new to ACS CAN, each Light of Hope represents a loved one's cancer story—a survivor, someone in treatment, someone who passed from cancer, or a cancer caregiver. This event is a visual reminder to all elected officials of the strength of our collective voice and our role in this cancer fight – as well as a critical fundraiser for ACS CAN's public policy advocacy agenda. We are grateful to every volunteer participating! 

You can still get involved by raising funds and donating to Lights of Hope.

Catch the replay of our In Due Season screening hosted by the ACS CAN Black Volunteer Caucus. Thanks to all who joined the first nationwide virtual screening of In Due Season and virtual panel. Our partner Fenika Miller, Deputy National Field Director for Black Voters Matter, joined the panel discussion in addition to filmmaker Ashley O'Shay, Pam Williams, featured in the film, our host ACS CAN Board Chair Dr. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, and ACS CAN Board member Dr. Karen Winkfield. The panel led a robust discussion about the film and the work ACS CAN is doing to pass policies to expand Medicaid in the ten states that haven't yet expanded. Visit In Due Season's website to watch and share the film, host a film screening, and take action.

Social Spotlight: Share our August Volunteer Spotlight featuring Michael Hu, a Pennsylvania ACS CAN Legislative Ambassador. Michael was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in March 2022. "One of the reasons I got involved [with ACS CAN] was [because] cancer took away a lot from me, and being able to do something that helps others made me feel empowered again," said Michael.

MCED Push: There's still time to share our social media infographic about the significance of multi-cancer early detection by sharing posts on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Judicial Update: 

ACS CAN and its tobacco control partners filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) issuance of marketing denial orders for flavored e-cigarette products in a landmark case that will decide whether the agency can rein in the products and protect kids from a lifetime of addiction to nicotine. Read our full release.

Advocacy in the News

• MSNBC: Opinion: Biden’s right that we need new innovations in cancer care. Here’s what we need more.
• Forbes: Feds Award Up To $150 Million To 8 Research Teams To Improve Cancer Surgeries
• AP: Biden announces $150 million in research grants as part of his ‘moonshot’ push to fight cancer
• Roll Call: Biden announces $150 million ‘Cancer Moonshot’ investment
• Gray TV: President Biden, First Lady Jill Biden to fly to New Orleans on Tuesday for cancer initiative event
• Stat : With Biden’s departure in sight, advocates seek to preserve gains of Cancer Moonshot
• Self: What Losing a Testicle to Cancer Taught Me About Masculinity
• CNN: Stop & Shop will join other major chains and stop selling cigarettes
• Imperial Valley Press: Congressman Raul Ruiz holds joint conference in support of Clinical Trials for patients
• Idaho Capital Sun: Without Idaho Medicaid expansion, ‘I may not be here.’ Documentary to share stories
• Star City News : Hometown Hero: Christine Yoder