2011 Federal Legislative Priorities

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is the nation’s leading cancer advocacy organization. ACS CAN works to make cancer a national priority, giving people touched by cancer a voice in Congress and in state legislatures across the nation.

Cancer Research
Some of our greatest medical breakthroughs in cancer were the result of research at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the federal agency that oversees government-funded cancer research. ACS CAN is working to increase funding for the NCI to drive new discoveries and help eliminate suffering and death from cancer.

Breast Cancer
We must increase funding for cancer research and prevention programs so researchers can continue to develop better prevention and treatment tools for breast cancer and all women are ensured access to lifesaving mammograms.

Today, the federal program that provides mammograms to uninsured women is dangerously under-funded, potentially having to turn away four out of every five women who seek a breast cancer screening. ACS CAN is working to increase funding for this program to ensure that no woman is ever denied access to a mammogram.

Consumer Protections for Cancer Patients and Survivors
In 2010, ACS CAN’s work led to new health insurance-related protections for cancer patients and survivors. This included eliminating lifetime caps on coverage, allowing children to stay on their parent’s insurance until age 26 and forbidding insurance companies from canceling a cancer patient’s coverage just because they got sick. ACS CAN will oppose any attempts to repeal these crucial protections and continue to support bills and regulations that protect cancer patients and survivors.

Regulating Tobacco Products and Marketing
In 2009, ACS CAN led the effort to pass a landmark public health law that granted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA) the power to regulate the production, marketing, and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products. ACS CAN continues to advocate for aggressive and effective implementation of this law to reduce the disease and death caused by Big Tobacco's addictive and deadly products.

National Patient Navigator Program
Getting a cancer diagnosis is scary enough. But for some cancer patients, managing the medical system can be even scarier. ACS CAN is asking Congress to expand the successful pilot project -- which ACS CAN played a major role in passing -- that helps low-income cancer patients navigate the health care system and overcome barriers to health care.

Improving the Quality of Life for Cancer Survivors
ACS CAN will work with Members of Congress to introduce quality of life legislation which improves the comfort and well-being of cancer patients and survivors. We work to place new emphasis on incentivizing and training health professionals to provide better coordinated care, and expanding research.