HARTFORD – Earlier this month, Governor Lamont gave his annual state budget address which proposed a 50% cut over the next two years to the state’s Tobacco Health and Trust Fund (THTF). This morning, a public hearing will be held to address this and other proposed cuts.
The following statement can be attributed to Natalie Shurtleff, Connecticut Grassroots Manager for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):
“The cuts proposed by Governor Lamont in his recent budget address would be the 84th time the THTF has been swept, cut, reduced, or redirected over its 21-year history. Rather than cutting these funds we should, in fact, be increasing the funding to $22.7 million to meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention minimum recommendations – something we haven’t achieved in the last two decades.
“Knowing that tobacco use contributes to one third of all cancer deaths and that nearly 5,000 people in Connecticut lose their lives to smoking each year, tackling tobacco use is an easy place to start when it comes to reducing the impact of this disease here in our state.
“Fact-based, statewide tobacco prevention and cessation programs equip people with the tools to stop using tobacco, educate on the negative health outcomes associated with tobacco products and help dismantle the systemic disparities perpetuated by the tobacco industry. Why would anyone think cutting funding for such a program would be a good idea?”
Newly released data shows that in 2023, nearly 23,500 people in Connecticut will be diagnosed with cancer, and over 6,000 will lose their life to the disease. Lawmakers can play a key role in bringing these numbers down by supporting fact-based policies proven to reduce cancer related death and disease.
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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