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Debt Ceiling Deal Passes Without Medicaid Work Requirements; Cancer Advocates Urge Congress to Prioritize Cancer Research Funding in FY24 Bill
Statement from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) President Lisa A. Lacasse
June 1, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 1, 2023 – Tonight, the Senate passed a debt ceiling deal (HR 3746) by a 63-36 vote and it now heads to the President for his signature.
The following is a statement from ACS CAN President, Lisa A. Lacasse:
“Families affected by cancer are relieved the final debt ceiling deal protects access to quality, affordable health insurance for millions covered by Medicaid without conditioning eligibility on ineffective work requirements.
“Throughout the negotiation, ACS CAN volunteers made cancer a priority for lawmakers, sending more than 25,000 messages and making thousands of calls to key Senate offices with a clear message to protect access to comprehensive, affordable health coverage in Medicaid and prevent cuts to federal funding for cancer research. ACS CAN also launched an advertising campaign in Washington, D.C. and news outlets in target markets urging lawmakers: ‘don’t negotiate with cancer.’
“While the final debt ceiling deal averted more troubling provisions, we remain concerned about the implications of discretionary budget caps on sustained funding for cancer research and future progress. Over the last 50 years, sustained and growing funding for cancer research has been critical to fueling progress in research that has led to improved screenings, innovative treatments and bringing us ever closer to cancer cures.
“It is clear lawmakers responded to ACS CAN volunteers’ relentless advocacy to ensure the patient voice was heard. With the passage of this legislation, we renew our call on Congress to prioritize robust cancer research funding including $51 billion at the National Institutes of Health, $9.9 billion at the National Cancer Institute, and $472.4 million for cancer prevention and control programs in the FY24 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill.”
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