Gov. O’Malley Honored for Commitment to Cancer Issues at American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Research Breakfast
ANNAPOLIS – February 26, 2014 – Gov. Martin O’Malley was honored with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) Capitol Dome Award during the organization’s annual research breakfast on Wednesday, February 26.
O’Malley received the award for his commitment to cancer-related issues, including his support of the Clean Indoor Air Act, a $1.00 increase on tobacco products, expanding access to healthcare for uninsured residents and funding for the state’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.
“Governor O’Malley has been a great friend of the cancer control community,” said Dr. Karlynn Brintzenhofeszoc, Ph.D., MSW, president of the American Cancer Society South Atlantic Division Board of Directors. “His commitment to prevention, early detection and access to health care means many fewer Maryland residents will be diagnosed with cancer.”
In his first session in 2007, Governor O’Malley helped secure the votes for passage of the Clean Indoor Air Act, one of the nation’s strongest laws protecting people from the dangers of secondhand tobacco smoke. Later that year, he convened a special session in which he led the way for a $1.00 per pack increase in the cigarette tax. Funding for the tax was dedicated to expanding access to health care for the state’s working poor, giving thousands of Marylanders coverage for cancer screening, dedication, detection and treatment. Despite having to cut billions from state spending in very difficult budget times, Gov. O’Malley consistently refused to reduce funding for the state’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment Programs.
ACS CAN presented the Capitol Dome award at the organization’s annual Maryland research breakfast, during which a panel of experts from several of Maryland’s research institutions to discuss how states can promote biomedical research and foster innovation. Panelists included Claudia Baquet, M.D., Associate Dean, Policy and Planning, University of Maryland School of Medicine; John Czajkowski, Deputy Director for Management, National Cancer Institute; Judy Britz, Ph.D., Executive Director of the BioMaryland Center; William Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Oncology and Director of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University; and Robert K. Brookland, M.D., Chairman, Department of Radiation Oncology Greater Baltimore Medical Center
The research breakfast is an annual fund-raiser for ACS CAN. Funds from the event will be used to mobilize and train cancer survivors and volunteers from across the state to urge their state and federal lawmakers to make cancer issues a priority.
About ACS CAN
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
###
After months of delay and hard negotiations, Congress has finally passed a funding bill! The bill includes a small increase for cancer research and prevention programs.