2020 Maine Session Summary
Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, and expand access to quality, affordable health care.
News
Hearings to Fund Colorectal Screening Program & Raise Tobacco Tax Bookend Day at the Capitol Activities
March 9, 2017
LINCOLN, Neb. – March 9, 2017 – Cancer survivors, caregivers and health professionals will ask their legislators to put patients and prevention first in a busy week for American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteers working to reduce the impact of the two leading causes of cancer deaths in Nebraska.
Their advocacy for cancer patients starts Monday, March 13, in the appropriations committee as ACS CAN volunteer and former Administrator of the Office of Women’s and Men’s Health Kathy Ward testifies to the importance of the Nebraska Colon Cancer Screening Program. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Nebraska for men and women and is 37th in the nation for colon cancer screenings.
ACS CAN volunteers will meet with their senators Tuesday, March 14 for the annual Day at the Capitol and will discuss three bills crucial to the health of Nebraska.
LB 323 would establish an advisory council on palliative care and quality of life and start a palliative care education program in Nebraska. This growing field of specialized medical care focuses on relieving pain, stress and other often debilitating symptoms of a serious illness.
LB 327 appropriates funds in the biennial budget for state programs which includes the breast, cervical, and colorectal state screening programs.
LB 438 would raise Nebraska’s cigarette tax $1.50 per pack and increase the tax for products other than snuff from 20 percent to 65 percent of the purchase price. Raising cigarette taxes $1.50 per pack would prevent 11,300 children in Nebraska from ever starting to smoke and cause 12,400 adults to quit smoking.
*** The following are available for interviews prior to the Day at the Capitol or will also be available that day from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. in Room 1023 in the state Capitol: Amy Geschwender (palliative care), Kathy Ward (colorectal cancer) and Brooklyn Larrimore (Tobacco Prevention- prior to the event or at LB 438 hearing on March 17) ***
WHAT: Day at the Capitol
WHERE: Nebraska State Capitol
Cornhusker Hotel at 333 S 13th St., Lincoln, NE 68508
WHEN: Tuesday, March 14 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
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