Delaware U.S. House Candidates Asked to State Positions on Cancer Issues

Washington, DC – October 6, 2010 – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), an official supporting organization of tonight’s U.S. House debate at the University of Delaware, is calling on the candidates to go on the record with their positions on cancer issues. ACS CAN, the nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, is involved in the debate as part of its ongoing efforts nationwide to educate voters about laws and policies that help people fight cancer.

As part of its voter education program, ACS CAN has asked candidates in the U.S. House race in Delaware and in congressional elections across the country to publically state their positions on the critical importance of increased federal funding for cancer research, strong implementation of the Affordable Care Act and comprehensive tobacco control policies.

“Government officials at the federal, state, and local level make decisions every day that impact the ability of people with cancer or who are at risk of cancer to prevent and fight the disease,” said ACS CAN member Patricia P. Hoge, RN, Ph.D., who serves as Executive Vice President, Mission Delivery and Medical Affairs, American Cancer Society, South Atlantic Division, Inc. “Lawmakers have the power to fund groundbreaking medical research, expand access to quality health care and enact strong policies that discourage people from taking up the deadly habit of smoking. We hope that the candidates will go on the record with their positions on these critical issues.”

ACS CAN provided its own answers in the candidate questionnaires, which encourage candidates to support a federal investment in cancer research and prevention as the surest way to continue to reduce the suffering and economic burden caused by the disease. Support from Congress is leading to the development of new tools for early detection and cancer-fighting treatments that are still in the early stages. A sustained federal investment in these efforts is necessary to make significant progress in the fight against cancer.

ACA CAN also supports strong implementation of the recently enacted Affordable Care Act so that cancer patients, survivors and their families have full access to quality, affordable health care coverage. The new law, while not perfect, will meaningfully improve access to health care for millions of Americans who have or may face cancer.

ACS CAN also supports strong tobacco control policies, including an increase in the federal tobacco tax to reduce the number of youth and adults who begin smoking and to increase the number of smokers who quit. Every day, 3,500 kids try their first cigarette and 1,000 kids become regular smokers. ACS CAN supports substantially increasing the federal tobacco tax because every 10 percent increase in the cost of a pack reduces youth smoking by 7 percent and overall cigarette consumption by 4 percent.

“As a breast cancer survivor, I know first-hand how important the decisions of elected officials can be to people with cancer and their families in Delaware,” said Barbara Burd of Wilmington, DE. “That is why I am asking everyone to learn where their 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.”

Delaware has long been a leader in enacting policies to fight cancer. However, there is still a lot of work to be done. The state is second only to Rhode Island in the rate of per capita cancer incidence, exceeding the national average by 11.5 percent. It is estimated in that 2010 in Delaware, there will be nearly 5,000 people diagnosed with cancer and that nearly 2,000 people will die from the disease. Nationwide, in 2010, more than 1.4 million people will be diagnosed with cancer and more than 596,000 will die from the disease.

ACS CAN, the voice of more than 11 million cancer patients in this country and their families, is strictly non-partisan and does not endorse or contribute to any candidate or political party. The voter guides are available online at www.fightcancer.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Nicole Bender
(202) 661-5773
[email protected]

Steven Weiss
(202) 661-5711
[email protected]