AUSTIN, TX – January 12, 2021 – As lawmakers dive into the first day of the 2021 legislative session, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) looks ahead to what public health initiatives our lawmakers can accomplish in the new year.
While Texas has accomplished significant milestones in the fight against cancer, the legislature has the opportunity to build on its commitment with proven policies that will reduce the cancer burden in the state and with the significant effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in mind.
All individuals deserve to live full, healthy lives now and long after the pandemic passes. That’s why ACS CAN is advocating for:
- Colorectal Cancer Early Detecton and Prevention: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the country among men and women combined. In accordance with the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) updated guidelines, ACS CAN will advocate for legislation to ensure insurers fully cover colorectal screenings for individuals over the age of 45 and ensuring that co-pay requirements for a colonoscopy following a positive non-invasive stool-based screening test be removed.
- Continued Support for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas: Texas is the second-largest funder of cancer research in the nation, thanks to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). In 2007, voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment authorizing $3 billion over 10 years in general obligation bonds for CPRIT. ACS CAN is asking the Legislature to continue to fulfill the wishes of their constituents by continuing to fund CRPIT and support cutting-edge research and programs that touch every county in the state.
- Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection and Prevention: Breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers in the nation and of which early detection plays an important role in survivorship. ACS CAN will advocate to maintain funding for state cancer screening programs for low-income uninsured and underinsured through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Early Detection Program (BCCEDP).
Cancer patients, survivors and advocates look forward to meeting virtually with lawmakers over these issues during ACS CAN's annual Cancer Action Day on February 24th. ACS CAN encourages individuals, businesses and organizations that are interested in these issues to reach out to ACS CAN to get involved in the fight against cancer at fightcancer.org/TX.
About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As the American Cancer Society's nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
