Statement of Daniel E. Smith, president, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- January 28, 2009 -- The economic stimulus package is expected to come up for a vote in the full House of Representatives today, on the heels of passage out of both the Senate Appropriations and Finance Committees yesterday. The legislation contains a significant funding boost for public health measures that improve access to care, prevention and wellness programs, community health organizations, National Institutes of Health (NIH) research and health information technology.
The following is a statement on the stimulus package from Daniel E. Smith, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):
“The shaky economy is threatening job stability and with it the ability of millions of families to afford health coverage. Expanding access to health care for our nation’s most vulnerable populations is crucial to getting our economy back on track, and provisions in the economic stimulus package can help to begin to address that critical need.
“Increasing funding for Medicaid programs will go a long way to preserve health care coverage for more than 50 million needy Americans who are already being served by their state programs. The COBRA provisions in the stimulus package will also help individuals maintain affordable coverage at a time when personal budgets are severely strained.
“The stimulus bill would begin to reverse the trend of flat funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute by providing necessary resources and support to cancer centers and researchers across the country. Only with the proper investment in research will we improve how we prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.
“The stimulus makes a significant down payment on reforms aimed at shifting from the current ’sick care’ system to one that focuses on prevention and wellness. Provisions in the stimulus proposal, such as increased investment in health information technology, community health centers and primary care provider training will help ensure higher quality care and a more prevention-focused health care system.
“The cancer community is encouraged by the continued progress on this bill, which has the potential to jump start the economy and benefit millions of cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones across the country. We are hopeful that Congress and President Obama will work to continue to expedite the process, so Americans can quickly reap the benefits of an injection of funding that focuses on improving public health.”
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 https://www.fightcancer.org/.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Alissa Havens
Phone: (202) 661-5772
Email: [email protected]
Christina Saull
Phone: (202) 585-3250
Email: [email protected]
