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Administration Budget Proposal Strong on Tobacco Control and Research Funding; Undervalues Prevention Programs
Statement from Christopher Hansen, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)
April 10, 2013
WASHINGTON April 10, 2013 Families affected by cancer applaud President Obama for proposing an FY 2014 budget that would significantly reduce the impact of tobacco, a leading cause of cancer and preventable death, and commit to restoring the federal investment in medical research, the key to advancing progress against a disease that is expected to kill more than 580,000 Americans this year. However, we are disappointed that the administration has short-changed proven prevention programs equally imperative to our ability to detect cancer early and in some cases prevent it altogether.
The unprecedented 94-cent increase to the federal tax on cigarettes and significant increases on other tobacco products could have a dramatic impact on public health by reducing health care costs associated with tobacco use and preventing premature deaths. Raising the price of tobacco products is one of the most effective approaches to encouraging people to quit and preventing kids from picking up the deadly habit in the first place. Research has consistently shown that every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking by 6.5 percent and overall cigarette consumption by about 4 percent.
The proposed increase would bring the total federal cigarette tax close to $2, bringing it closer to the $2.39 per pack recommended in a report cited by the President Bush 's Cancer Panel in 2007. Increasing tobacco taxes would undoubtedly decrease the scourge of tobacco on our country and complement ongoing tobacco control efforts at the state and local level. Discouraging tobacco use through increased prices will reduce the $96 billion in annual health care costs associated with using these deadly products.
ACS CAN is also encouraged by the president 's commitment to restore the National Institutes of Health budget to pre-sequestration levels and increase it further by more than $470 million. This proposal is a promising first step toward maximizing our ability as a nation to leverage past progress and promote future discovery in the fight to defeat this disease. Turning off the mindless sequester cut is critical to ensuring that promising research will continue and new research gets off the ground.
We are disappointed that the president 's plan limits the nation 's ability to apply proven prevention strategies in the fight to eliminate death and suffering from cancer. Many women who currently receive recommended screening tests through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, offered through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will have no alternative option for affordable, lifesaving screenings. Affordable colon cancer screenings for both men and women are also in jeopardy.
Nearly 1.7 million Americans are expected to be diagnosed with cancer and more than 580,000 will die from the disease this year. To eliminate death and suffering from this disease, we need lawmakers at every level to commit to fund what works and invest in finding answers where questions remain.
The president 's proposal lays the groundwork to reestablish our place as a leader in cancer research and significantly decrease tobacco 's deadly impact. Cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones are calling on Congress to truly make cancer a national priority by restoring and increasing funding for research, increasing tobacco taxes and funding proven prevention programs in a way that allows us to fight and defeat cancer with the full weight of our country 's resources.
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Alissa Crispino or Steven Weiss
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Phone: (202) 661-5772 or (202) 661-5711
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
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