Harrisburg, Pa. — Starting next Monday, cancer patients and survivors from across Pennsylvania will begin making virtual asks of their state lawmakers to preserve Pennsylvania’s line item for tobacco prevention and cessation funding in the state budget.
Volunteers from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) will be making these asks as part of the organization’s Virtual Week of Action—created as an alternative to the group’s annual Day at the Capitol in the midst of COVID-19.
Specifically, volunteers will be asking state lawmakers to preserve $14.7 million for tobacco prevention and cessation funding to lessen the economic and health toll of Big Tobacco in Pennsylvania and help protect the state’s next generation from a lifetime of addiction. Currently, the state experiences $5.7 billion in productivity losses each year that are attributable to smoking.
Other reasons why this issue should matter to Pennsylvanians:
During the virtual Week of Action, approximately 150 ACS CAN volunteers from across the state will engage with their state legislators via email, calls, video meetings and social media to discuss ACS CAN Pennsylvania’s push for preserving tobacco control funding. Follow the conversation on Twitter and Facebook via @ACSCANPA.
MEDIA: Interviews related to cancer policy are available with Bill Sherman, ACS CAN managing director of government relations.
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About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.