A message from ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse
This November ushers in a changing season, marked by a coming leadership transition for our nation, including both the Administration and Congress. In preparation for this shift, ACS CAN is laser focused on elevating our key legislative priorities as we conclude the 118th Congress (Lame Duck session) and plan for the 119th Congress, as well as 50+ state legislative and territory sessions
The current federal government funding, operating under a continuing resolution, is set to expire on December 20th and there are several "must pass" legislative provisions that call for congressional action before the end of 2024.
Our focus during Lame Duck remains:
- Passing FY25 appropriations with the highest possible increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Passing the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Act (MCED)
- Passing the SCREENS for Cancer Act, reauthorizing the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
We have deployed powerful grassroots strategies to elevate our calls to action.
Our dedicated volunteers are actively raising their voices – making phone calls, visiting offices, and sending a strong message to lawmakers to act and pass these priorities before the end of the year. This week we are launching advertising, featuring ACS CAN volunteers, that is directed to federal lawmakers and focused on our FY25 appropriations ask and passing MCED, prominently featured in the Washington Post and Politico Influence.
ACS CAN will also be working with the new Administration's transition team, providing key information on our mission priorities. We are engaging with all members of Congress to elevate and educate on the need to make the Affordable Care Act Enhanced Tax Credits permanent.
A huge shout-out to our 2024 Cancer Votes efforts, made possible by our team and volunteers. Through thoughtful and robust engagement with candidates on our key issues, we have laid important groundwork for collaboration with newly elected officials. We had 567 dedicated Cancer Votes volunteers this year and 93 candidates sign the Cancer Promise, a pledge to support evidence-based public policy solutions to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. As we move forward, we will build on these relationships and commitments with newly elected members of Congress as we advocate for our policy priorities.
At the state level, we are continuing to elevate Medicaid expansion in our targeted states of opportunity: Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina as well as close out legislative sessions in a handful of states who have year-round legislatures.
As we look ahead to 2025, ACS CAN will continue to elevate our patient-centered priorities and commitment to cancer health equity, centering the lived experiences and inclusive voices of all the communities we serve.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.
Lisa
State Updates
Delaware: In late October, Governor Carney signed a state version of the Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening for High-risk Insured Men Act or the PSA Screening (PSA for HIM) Act. ACS CAN was present during this signing. Zero Prostate and ACS CAN issued a joint press release to highlight the enactment of the legislation and the Governor's approval.
DC: In October, Mayor Bowser signed a council-adopted version of PSA for HIM and Congress is reviewing the law. ACS CAN issued a press release and DC volunteer and two-time prostate cancer survivor Lawson Brooks testified on behalf of the bill in front of the City Council. Upon its passage, Lawson sat down for an interview with NBC Washington affiliate WRC-TV to share his story and emphasize the importance of improving access to early detection.
Arizona: Navajo Nation Legislative Council passed a $1.50 tobacco tax increase and parity increases in other tobacco products including a new tax on e-cigarettes and synthetic nicotine products. The legislation still awaits signing by Navajo President Nygren. ACS CAN provided technical assistance with the development of the language and a letter of support.
Federal and Judicial Updates
New 2024 data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Youth Tobacco Survey found that more than 2 million youth or 8.1% reported using commercial tobacco products. This number is the lowest since 1999. We are proud of this decline; however, a closer look at the data shows that by race and ethnicity, current tobacco use was highest among American Indian and Alaska Native youth for any tobacco product and e-cigarette use.
The survey also found that e-cigarettes remain the most popular tobacco products among youth with 1.63 million reporting current usage. Nicotine pouches climbed to the second most popular product with almost half a million-youth reporting current usage. Read more.
On November 4, ACS CAN and 5 other patient advocacy organizations filed an amicus curiae, or “friend-of-the-court,” brief in the case of American Clinical Laboratory Association et al v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas. The amicus brief supports the FDA’s laboratory developed tests (LDTs) rule that harmonized oversight for diagnostic tests regardless of whether tests are performed in laboratories or sold as prepackaged kits. Prior to the rule, diagnostic tests underwent widely different oversight depending on whether they were submitted to the FDA for review or were offered as LDTs, the latter of which does not involve any premarket review, product registration listing, or adverse event reporting. This difference opened the door to the possibility that test results for the same sample could vary depending on where the test was conducted, potentially leading to incorrect treatment decisions and patient harm if a test result is not valid. Read more.
Native American Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the culture, traditions & lives of American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, & affiliated Island communities. We also commemorate the accomplishments of Indigenous & Native people in our history and culture. Help us elevate on social media.
Have you met our newest volunteer affinity group? Indigenous Volunteer Voices works to end the cancer burden among Native peoples by advocating for policies that honor their unique histories, wisdoms, cultures, and traditions. Learn more and amplify on LinkedIn.
Events to Watch
Today: Join us for a How Anti-Trans Legislation is Impacting Cancer webinar hosted by ACS CAN and the National LGBT Cancer Action Network at 3 pm ET, a discussion on the impact of anti-trans legislation on the healthcare of trans individuals, including cancer prevention and treatment. Hear directly from trans people who have been impacted by these harmful laws and learn how health care professionals and advocates can make a difference. Register here.
Catch the replay of Equitable Access: Return to Breast Cancer Screening for Under Resourced Communities, a joint event hosted by ACS CAN's volunteer Affinity Groups to discuss breast cancer screening disparities and opportunities. Watch it here.
Catch the replay of Eliminating Policy Barriers to Diversifying Clinical Trials. This webinar detailed the policies to diversify clinical trials, and more specifically HR 8412, the Clinical Trial Modernization Act, by the National Minority Quality Forum featuring Dr. Mark Fleury, Principal, Policy Development, Emerging Science at ACS CAN.
In Case You Missed It
On October 16th ACS and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE) held a joint symposium on Benchmarks for Diversity in Oncology Clinical Trials. The event was attended by 55 in-person attendees and over 300 virtual attendees. Panelists discussed practical aspects of setting demographic trial enrollment targets, which are part of newly required Diversity Action Plans which must be submitted to the FDA.
On October 17th ACS CAN hosted the Improving the Cancer Clinical Trial Matching Ecosystem meeting in Washington DC and online. The meeting explored progress on recommendations made five years ago at an earlier summit and explored additional work still needed.
Advocacy in the News
• Wall Street Journal: Biden’s Cancer Moonshot’s Last Acts: Easing Pediatric Drug Shortages
• US News: Lack of Insurance Could Mean Later Cancer Diagnoses for Black, Hispanic Americans
• Politico Pro: States losing cancer care fastest have something in common: They’ve refused to expand Medicaid.
• CNBC: Op-ed: The financial toxicity of cancer is growing. Here’s what can be done to reduce it
• Newsweek: Map Shows States With Cheapest Cigarettes
• The Grio: Breast cancer deaths continue to fall as new cases rise among young women
• Forbes: California Legalizes Cannabis Cafes Amid Hemp THC Ban
• NBC 4 Washington: Free prostate cancer screening bill signed by DC's mayor
• The Baltimore Sun: Next senator should make fighting cancer a national priority
• Spectrum News 1: Bill aims to get prostate cancer screenings covered by insurance
• WV Public Broadcasting: Anti-Tobacco Advocates Disappointed With Lack Of Legislative Consideration
• Hawaii Public Radio: Report: Breast cancer rates for AAPI women have risen over last 2 decades
