The effort to make cancer a national priority with our elected officials is not just a fight based in Washington, D.C. ACS CAN volunteers are holding events across the country to call on Congress to protect federal funding for cancer research, prevention and access to adequate health care. In Texas last week, cancer patients, survivors and volunteers led a one-day bus tour across Rep. Jeb Hensarling's congressional district, which includes Dallas. Rep. Hensarling is one of the 12 members of the bipartisan congressional super committee tasked to deliver recommendations to Congress later this month on how the federal government can cut at least $1.2 trillion from the federal budget over the next 10 years. His constituents are taking a stand because in Texas this year, an estimated 100,000 people will be diagnosed with cancer and more than 35,000 will die from the disease. The bus was wrapped so advocates could sign it with their messages for a future with less cancer. It made six stops throughout the day at rallies located at places such as Kirkland's in Mesquite, East Texas Medical Center in Athens and Town East Mall in Dallas. Advocates in Phoenix, Arizona also took a stand two weeks ago with a similar rally calling on Congress to make cancer a national priority, followed by a visit to Sen. Jon Kyl's state office. Our South Carolina volunteers recently met with Rep. James Clyburn, another member of the super committee, to discuss ACS CAN's priorities. Last month, events were held in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee, celebrating the 10 millionth National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program screening and calling on lawmakers in their states to protect funding for this important CDC program. You can join us during this critical time for the future of our nation's fiscal priorities by sharing our national TV commercial and signing our petition to call on your lawmakers to make cancer a national priority.
Mariah Forster Olson, an ACS CAN Ambassador Constituent Team Lead (ACT Lead), traveled to Washington, D.C. this week to share her story as a childhood cancer survivor and to advocate on behalf of other patients and survivors during the 2019 Childhood Cancer Action Days.