Lewis honored by American Cancer Society

Submitted by the American Cancer Society.

State Sen. Jason Lewis was awarded the Distinguished Advocacy Award, a prestigious honor bestowed by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in recognition of his leadership and commitment to strong public health policies around tobacco and other cancer issues.

The award is presented by ACS CAN, the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, to select officials who have demonstrated leadership and commitment in the area of cancer-related public policy advocacy. Sen. Lewis received the award during a ceremony at ACS CAN’s annual Lobby Day, which brought over 100 cancer survivors and advocates to Beacon Hill to lobby in support of cancer related policies. This year’s event urged lawmakers to build on the work accomplished fighting Big Tobacco in previous legislative sessions, including a tax on electronic cigarettes, an increased cigarette and cigar tax, and a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products in the Commonwealth.

“Sen. Lewis has been a champion in protecting Massachusetts youth from the targeting of the tobacco industry. He was instrumental in making the Commonwealth among the first states in the nation to raise the age of sale of tobacco products to 21 – an accomplishment that we know will save countless lives going forward,” said Marc Hymovitz, government relations director for ACS CAN. “His partnership with ACS CAN and dedication to keeping tobacco out of the hands of our youth have demonstrated his commitment to fighting cancer through public policy, and we look forward to continuing to work together to save lives in Massachusetts.”

“We should all be proud that the Commonwealth is a national leader in preventing youth addiction to tobacco and nicotine products, and our commitment to this mission will improve public health, save lives, and reduce healthcare costs,” said Sen. Lewis. “I was proud to work over the last several years with advocates, colleagues, members of the community, and most importantly, with youth, to enact this legislation and see it signed into law.”

ACS CAN applauds Sen. Lewis’s determination to enact meaningful legislation that benefits public health and saves lives from cancer across Massachusetts.