HARRISBURG, PA – April 17, 2018 – Nearly 120 cancer patients, survivors and caregivers from across the state traveled to the State Capitol in Harrisburg today to meet with Pennsylvania’s lawmakers about the need for strengthening the Clean Indoor Air Act - which is 10 years old this year - and to maintain funding for the tobacco prevention and control program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The visit was part of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) annual Day at the Capitol.
In Pennsylvania, an estimated 80,960 people will be diagnosed with cancer in 2018, and 28,620 will lose their battle with the disease. Those gathered at the State Capitol today called on state lawmakers to change this by taking steps to make the fight against cancer a priority.
Specifically, the ACS CAN Pennsylvania volunteers asked the legislature to:
• Protect all Pennsylvania workers from the dangers of secondhand smoke by including electronic cigarettes in Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air Act and removing current exemptions, including those for bars and casinos
• Maintain funding for the tobacco prevention and control program that prevents the use of tobacco by youth and helps people quit
“Lawmakers are hearing from Pennsylvanians from across the state, and from all walks of life – cancer survivors, caregivers, youth advocates – about their personal commitment to fighting cancer through advocacy and public policy,” said Diane Phillips, director of government relations for ACS CAN. “ACS CAN hopes their message resonated with lawmakers, and the Pennsylvania legislature will commit to proven cancer fighting policies – including a strong clean indoor air law and fully funded tobacco prevention and cessation programs.”
About ACS CAN
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 fightcancer.org.
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