West Virginia ACS CAN 2016 Legislative Priorities

2016 WV Legislative Priorities

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer society.  ACS CAN supports evidence-based policy and legislative solution designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem.

The following highlights ACS CAN’ WV 2016 legislative priorities:

Tobacco Control Issues

• Increase the tax on cigarettes from 55 cents to 1.50 per pack and increase the tax on other tobacco products at an equivalent rate
• Defend local smoke-free air ordinances and defeat preemption at the state level.
• Increase the number of comprehensive smoke-free counties.
• Advocate to increase funding for  the WV Tobacco Prevention and Control Program to CDC level of $27.5 million.

Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity

      •        Advocate for policies that promote healthy eating and physical activity.

Indoor Tanning

• Strengthen current legislation prohibiting indoor tanning for individuals 14 years of age  and under to include all adolescents under the age of 18

Cancer Program funding

• Increase funding for the West Virginia Cancer Registry.
• Maintain funding for the Mountains of Hope West Virginia Cancer Coalition.
• Maintain funding for the West Virginia Breast and Cervical Diagnostic and Treatment Fund.
• Increase funding for state tobacco prevention program to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended level.