Cancer Votes in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Name: Marc Kaplan

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Cell: (518) 796-1038

Email: [email protected]

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc.
156 W State St
Trenton, NJ 08608

This election season, cancer patients and survivors in the 11^th Congressional District are working with candidates to make cancer a national priority.

While we have made great progress against cancer, the disease still kills more than 1,600 people a day in this country – 43 a day in New Jersey. If you are passionate about fighting cancer, it is critical to understand that the war against cancer won’t be won or lost in the research labs or doctors’ offices alone. Government officials make decisions every day about health issues that affect your life.

Elections offer an opportunity to raise the profile of cancer issues and educate candidates and the public about the disease. Which is why Cancer Votes, a nationwide voter education program sponsored by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is active in the 11^th Congressional District throughout the campaign season.

“As a cancer advocate, I know first-hand how important the decisions of elected officials can be to people with cancer and their families,” said ACS CAN Volunteer Mary Hess. “That is why I am asking everyone to learn where the candidates stand on public policy issues that will help make cancer history. And no matter who wins, our volunteers pledge to work with them to support laws and policies that help people fight cancer.” 

This fall, volunteers throughout the country will be informing candidates and the public about cancer issues in an effort to make cancer a national priority. ACS CAN sent questionnaires to both candidates in the U.S. House race and asked them to clearly state their positions on cancer research funding, ensuring access to quality, affordable health coverage and committing federal funding to eliminate deaths from cervical cancer worldwide. ACS CAN is strictly non-partisan and does not endorse, oppose or contribute to any candidate or political party.

“I am involved in Cancer Votes to make sure that both candidates for the congressional seat in New Jersey understand that almost every one of us will be touched by cancer in our lifetime and it is critical that they clearly state how they would work to make cancer a national priority,” said Hess. “Lawmakers have the power to fund groundbreaking research and enact policies that help people prevent and fight cancer. I hope the candidates will commit to making cancer a national priority. The nearly 15.5 million cancer survivors and their families in this country will be counting on it.”

It is estimated that in 2018 in New Jersey, there will be more than 53,000 people diagnosed with cancer and more than 16,000 people will die from the disease. Nationwide, in 2018, more than 1.7 million people will be diagnosed with cancer and more than 600,000 will die from the disease.

Both candidates for the 11^th congressional seat, Mikie Sherrill and Jay Webber have provided responses to our Cancer Votes questions. For their responses and more information, visit www.cancervotes.org.

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.acscan.org.