January Advocacy Round-up

Your Eastern Division Advocacy Team has been busy in the new year!  Here are some highlights from the past month:

Announcing the 2011 Donald H. Gemson Cancer Prevention Public Policy Award
The Eastern Division of the American Cancer Society is now accepting nominations for the second annual Donald H. Gemson, Cancer Prevention Public Policy Award.   This award recognizes leadership in broad based policy change in the fight against cancer, a cause that Don Gemson, MD, MPH, an ACS board member, public health advocate, Columbia University professor and corporate health leader, embraced throughout his vibrant career.  Last year's award was presented to New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.  Completed applications should be sent to Susan Booth no later than February 21, 2011, and are available HERE. 

2011 State of the Union
Last week, cancer advocates from across the country tuned in to hear President Obama deliver his annual State of the Union speech, laying out his agenda for 2011 and delivering a key message about the importance of funding biomedical research. Special thanks to Russ Sciandra and Sandi Cassese who provided our first ever live analysis of the address on Facebook.  Now we must push both the President and Congress to increase funding for cancer research and critical cancer control programs.  Because the federal government is the biggest single source of funding for cancer research, we know any increase above this year's levels can lead to new breakthroughs and new treatments, saving lives and alleviating the suffering of millions of people touched by cancer.  Watch ACS CAN's video response to the State of the Union Address.

This year, our Legislative Ambassadors are ramping up to double our ACS CAN membership so that we can effectively influence Congress to double cancer research funding over an 8-year period, a promise President Obama made when he took office.  The year-long campaign, tagged Double the Members, Double the Research, Double the Hope will culminate in Celebrate With Action media events across the country the week of September 12th, just prior to this year's national ACS CAN lobby day.  Stay tuned for much more on this exciting effort.  

Affordable Care Act
Last week the White House announced the appointment of John Seffrin to the advisory group to the newly created National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council.  The council, which was created by the Affordable Care Act, is working to integrate the prevention efforts of numerous federal government agencies and coordinate prevention and wellness services nationwide. It was formed in June 2010 and is composed of six federal department secretaries and other government officials. The new Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health is empowered by the new law to advise the council on chronic disease prevention, health promotion and the creation of a first-ever national prevention strategy.

Given the Senate's strong support for the Affordable Care Act , the repeal legislation passed last week in the House of Representatives is not impacting our momentum to ensure its implementation so more and more Americans are benefiting from the new law's provisions.  States will soon be much more engaged in implementation as well, as they gear up to create state health benefit exchanges and expand state Medicaid programs to cover newly eligible populations.  Our advocacy staff are prepared, and have been trained to use two new evaluative tools, to analyze both exchange legislation and proposed Medicaid changes, to determine the potential impact those proposals may have on cancer patients and their families.  Our New York team has already begun meeting with policy makers in the Legislature and Executive branches to communicate our priorities.

Eastern Division Legislative Ambassador Awards
This month we presented our 2010 Legislative Ambassador Team of the Year awards to three outstanding and accomplished legislative ambassador teams -- the teams from district 3 (led by Elisheva Chamblin)and 13 (led by Denise La Pene) in New Jersey, and the team from district 27 in New York (led by Sue Ventresca).  The awards were presented at the recently concluded Volunteer Leadership Summits in North Brunswick and Rochester.  Established in 2007, the Eastern Division gives these prestigious awards annually to the top ambassador teams in each state who engage in legislative advocacy efforts and play a leadership role in recruiting, training, and motivating others on a long-term basis.  We also recognized Jim Pistilli at the New York City Summit as a recent recipient of the national Capitol Dome award. 

New York - Medicaid and Smoking
New York's new Governor, Andrew Cuomo, has hit the ground running on Medicaid reform, with Medicaid Redesign hearings occurring across the state.  We provided oral testimony at the Buffalo hearing as well as more formal written testimony urging the state to place a high priority on prevention and early detection of cancer as part of any planned Medicaid redesign. In addition, Russ Sciandra and Sherry Tomasky had a meeting with the new state Medicaid Director, speaking in more detail on the need to expand Medicaid benefits for smoking cessation and increase cancer screening rates.  Sandi Cassese, New York State Lead Ambassador, will provide the final part of our oral testimony at the hearing in New Paltz later this week.    

Last week, the Assembly health committee passed legislation that we support to restrict the sale of electronic cigarettes.   Also known as “e-cigarettes,” electronic cigarettes are battery operated devices designed to look like and be used in the same manner as conventional cigarettes. Sold online and in many retail locations, these devices consist of a cartridge filled with nicotine and other unknown chemicals. When the cartridge is heated (but not burned) using power from the battery, the chemicals are converted into a vapor that is inhaled by the user and then exhaled into the surrounding environment.  This bill prohibits the sale in New York of e-cigarettes unless the FDA approves them and prohibits their sale to children under 18 in all cases.  Read our memo in support.

And we have been ramping up advocacy in New York City, seeking passage of citywide legislation to prohibit smoking in all public parks, beaches and pedestrian plazas.  The legislation, sponsored by Councilwoman Gale Brewer, may come up for a vote in February.  

New Jersey - Budget
We are entering the budget season in New Jersey, and your American Cancer Society is hard at work protecting funding for vital cancer programs, including funding for the state program (NJ CEED) that provides low-income, uninsured women and men with breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate cancer screenings and funding for the Office of Cancer Control and Prevention.  Governor Christie gave his budget address last week, and we know it will be an uphill battle to preserve these vital state programs.  With a multi-billion budget deficit again predicted for the upcoming budget that starts on July 1st, we will need your help to protect these life-saving programs.  Please stay tuned for more details about how you can help.

New York - Budget
Governor Cuomo will release his budget on February 2, and all observers are expecting it will be very austere.  The state faces a $10 billion deficit and the Governor has let it be known that almost all state programs face cuts.  That is likely to include the Tobacco Control Program and the Cancer Screening Program.  The TCP has been particularly hard hit over the last two years, with its budget reduced by a third from the 2007 level.  Between now and the budget due date of April 1, we will need your help to ensure these important programs are adequately funded.

New RFL ACS CAN We CAN Clubs
Recently the RFL Business Unit and the Eastern Division Advocacy Department jointly announced the launch of the 2011 ACS CAN We CAN Club, based on a nationally supported program.   The new ACS CAN We CAN Club will be the primary vehicle to recruit new ACS CAN members through Relay For Life this year, and 20% of Relay events (four per region) in the Division will be selected to participate in this initiative.  These premiere events will engage in ACS CAN recruitment and awareness as a means to help the Division reach its goal of 2,000 additional ACS CAN members this year.  The initiative is an integral part of the nationwide Double the Members, Double the Research, Double the Hope campaign.  By doubling our Division’s ACS CAN membership, we can put the necessary pressure on Congress to double the funds for cancer research, which gives us double the hope to find cures and bring an end to this disease.  Download an ACS CAN We CAN Club description to learn more.

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Please don't hesitate to contact any member of our advocacy team if you have questions or would like additional information about any of the above.  We also are posting more frequent updates on Advocacy issues and campaigns at www.fightcancer.org/newyork and www.fightcancer.org/newjersey.