WA 2018 Legislative Priorities

2018 Washington State Legislative Priorities

Cancer is one of the most preventable and increasingly curable life-threatening diseases – but only if we take the steps necessary to prevent it outright, detect it early, and improve access to care. To this end, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in Washington State is working on the following legislative priorities in support of our mission to end cancer as a major health problem.

Reducing Cancer and Strengthening Tobacco Control

• Tobacco Prevention and Control Program – Washington state is in need of increased funding for the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. Tobacco is the number one cause of preventable death and disease in our state, and significant health disparities exist regarding tobacco use among communities of color and the LGBTQ community in Washington. By allocating a mere $2.9M to prevention & control funding, Washington ranks 42nd in the nation which is paltry when compared to the $90M/year the tobacco industry spends marketing their deadly products in Washington.

• Tobacco 21 – ACS CAN supports raising the legal age of sale for tobacco and electronic tobacco products to 21. Growing evidence shows that raising the age of sale is one step we can take to protect future generations from a lifetime of addiction. While ACS CAN and our partners work toward achieving a fully funded tobacco prevention program, increasing the age of sale for tobacco and e-cigarettes is one more tool to address youth access to these dangerous substances.

• Protecting the Clean Indoor Air Law – The U.S. Surgeon General has declared there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, and exemptions for cigar bars or other tobacco retailers would take away the workplace protections that the people of Washington put into place in 2005 with the passage of Washington’s Clean Indoor Air Law. ACS CAN will oppose all measures to weaken the state clean indoor air law.

Ensuring Access to Health Care

• Efforts at the state and federal levels in recent years have led to Washington reducing our uninsured rate down to 5.8%. As of March 2017, over 1.7 million Washington residents have health coverage through our health Washington Healthplanfinder, including over 50,000 children enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which is at risk for running out of funding since it has not yet been reauthorized by Congress. We oppose efforts to roll back existing health coverage and support finding solutions that ensure all Washingtonians have access to health care.

Funding Cancer Research

• Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund – ACS CAN supports the CARE Fund. This program seeks to optimize the use of public funds and increase the value of public investments by leveraging our state’s existing cancer research facilities & talent in the pursuit of finding cures. ACS CAN supports additional funding for this important program.

For More Information, Contact: Mary McHale, Government Relations Director, Washington State American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network • 610.417.4746 • www.fightcancer.org/washington