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Casey O'Neill
Senior Regional Media Advocacy Manager
**PRESS CONFERENCE** Cancer Survivors to Urge Legislators to Make Fighting Cancer a Priority in Visit to Capitol
February 24, 2023
ALBANY, NY –FEBRUARY 24, 2023 – Cancer survivors, their families and caregivers from across New York will gather at the Capitol building to ask legislators to support policies that improve New Yorkers’ access to cancer screenings and early detection services and institute lifesaving tobacco control legislation.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Education and Advocacy Day will bring cancer advocates together to call on the New York legislature to:
- Restore funding for the NYS Cancer Services Program (CSP) to $26.8 million in FY 2023-2024
- Increase the cigarette tax by at least $1 per pack and an equivalent tax on all other tobacco products like cigars, smokeless tobacco and electronic cigarettes
- Dedicate at least $13 million from the new cigarette tax revenue to the NYS Tobacco Control Program, increasing its budget to $52 million in FY 2023-2024
- End the sale of menthol cigarettes and all other flavored tobacco products
This year, 123,810 will be diagnosed with cancer in New York, and an estimated 31,320 will die from the disease. But those traveling to the Capitol next Tuesday are working with legislators to change that. If enacted, the policies on focus for ACS CAN’s Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Education and Advocacy Day will keep thousands of New Yorkers from dying as a result of tobacco use; for example, a $1 increase to the state’s cigarette tax is estimated to save over 15,000 lives and ending the sale of menthol cigarettes and all flavored tobacco will help keep another generation of kids from getting hooked on tobacco.
- WHAT: New York Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Education and Advocacy Day
- WHO: Over 50 cancer survivors, caregivers and patient advocates representing ACS CAN to provide testimony, meet with lawmakers and host press conference addressing policy goals
- WHERE: New York State Legislative Office Building, LCA Pressroom, Room 130
- WHEN: Tuesday, February 28, 12:00pm
The press conference will take place during the Health Committee budget hearing and provide a breakdown of the proposals around the CSP as well as those found in Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget relating to tobacco. Attendees will hear from cancer survivors and representatives from ACS CAN, the NAACP New York State Conference, Susan G. Komen, American Heart Association and American Lung Association among others on the importance of such legislation in the fight to end all suffering and death from cancer and the health inequities that permeate cancer care.
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About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) makes cancer a top priority for policymakers at every level of government. ACS CAN empowers volunteers across the country to make their voices heard to influence evidence-based public policy change that improves the lives of people with cancer and their families. We believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, find, treat, and survive cancer. Since 2001, as the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control measures. We’re more determined than ever to stand together with our volunteers to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Join the fight by visiting www.fightcancer.org.
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