FIGHT BACK EXPRESS
The bus has hit the road! Leading up to election day on November 4, 2008, the ACS CAN Fight Back Express is traveling across the country, stopping in hundreds of communities and building the movement to make cancer issues a national priority. The Fight Back Express will bring the stories of cancer patients, survivors and friends to the presidential candidates, urging them to make cancer a priority issue in their administration.
The Fight Back Express will be visiting the High Plains Division between late September and mid-October. There will be many opportunities for Kansas volunteers to help coordinate events throughout the state. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Neil Robertson at neil.robertson@cancer.org.
Visit www.acscan.org/bus for the most up to date information on the 2008 Fight Back Express!
FDA REGULATION OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS: PASSED BY THE U.S. HOUSE!
Every day, more than 4,000 children try their first cigarette and 1,000 kids become addicted. One-third of them will die prematurely as a result.
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (S. 625/H.R. 1108) would place restrictions on marketing which targets children and would decrease youth access to tobacco products. The legislation would also limit advertising in publications with significant teen readership to black-and-white text only and restrict vending machines and self-service displays to adult-only facilities.
There has been great progress on this bill in recent weeks. On Wednesday, July 30, by a bipartisan, veto-proof majority of 326 to 102, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1108. Kansans have special reason to celebrate, as all four Kansas Representatives voted in favor of the bill, with Representatives Dennis Moore and Nancy Boyda serving as co-sponsors of the legislation.
The attention now turns to the Senate, which will hopefully vote on the bill in Septemeber. For more information on this campaign please visit www.acscan.org/fda.
2008 KANSAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2008 Kansas Legislative Session has come to a close. Your Kansas Government Relations team and volunteers from across the state worked throughout the session to remind our elected officials that the fight against cancer is a top priority in Kansas. Following is a summary of priority issues from the 2008 Session:
- Clinical Research Trials. During the last week of April, Senator Barbara Allen was able to get an amendment on a bill that would assure that Kansas insurance companies cover routine care for patients who enroll in clinical research trials. At present, insurance companies have the option of denying coverage for such patients, so this is definitely an “access to care” issue for our state. Unfortunately, this bill did not move in conference committee, and there was no further action on the issue during this session.
- Colon Cancer Screening Assurance. Colon cancer screenings are vitally important to protect our health, since almost all incidences of colon cancer can be prevented with the early detection of pre-cancerous polyps. In late-March, the House passed an amendment on a bill that would have ensured that colon cancer screenings be provided by every insurance company in Kansas. However, this bill was not picked up by the Senate, and thus there was no further action on the issue during this session.
- Expansion of the Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. We have mixed results to report on the "BCCEDP” in Kansas. The good news is that the Legislature passed a bill that expands the program to include colon and prostate cancer screenings for the first time. Thus, the program is now structured to provide low income, uninsured, and underinsured Kansans with life-saving screenings for four types of cancer: breast, cervical, colon, and prostate. Unfortunately, despite the House passing an amendment to increase funding for the program by $1.5 million, the Legislature on whole failed to pass any increased funding for the program. This is especially disappointing since the program has exhausted all of its finances for this fiscal year.
- Statewide Smoke-Free Legislation.* In late March, Senate Bill 660, which would regulate smoking in indoor public places throughout the state, was passed out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee favorably with a vote of 8-2. While this appears to be positive news, the bill was never considered on the Senate floor. Thus, we will be working with our smoke-free coalition partners and supportive legislators to develop a statewide smoke-free campaign focused on educating both the public and our elected officials. Our goal is to build consensus throughout the remainder of 2008 that all Kansans deserve the right to breathe clean air, and put this into law as soon as possible.
*This issue is vitally important to winning the fight against cancer in our state. Keep in mind these facts:
LOCAL COMMUNITIES ENSURING CLEAN INDOOR AIR
Smoke-free communities are multiplying in Kansas. Communities are learning that smoke-free dining is not only good for health, it's good for business. The Government Relations team at your American Cancer Society has been closely monitoring the latest developments in communities near you.
The American Cancer Society supports a simple, strong, and fair clean indoor air ordinance that protects workers and patrons from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
In total, the following 30 Kansas communities have passed smoke-free legislation:
- Abilene
- Bel Aire
- Concordia
- Derby
- Fairway
- Garden City
- Hesston
- Hutchinson
- Lawrence
- Leawood
- Lenexa
- Lyons
- Maize
- Mission
- Mission Woods
- Newton
- North Newton
- Olathe
- Ottawa
- Overland Park
- Parsons
- Prairie Village
- Roeland Park
- Salina
- Shawnee
- Unincorporated areas of Harvey County
- Unincorporated areas of Johnson County
- Walton
- Westwood
- Wichita
As more communities pass smoke-free workplace laws, smoke-free coalitions are starting to form in cities near you. Each day more and more findings are showing that secondhand smoke is deadly. Below are some ways you can get involved!
1. Contact your local city council and urge them to take action to protect the citizens in your community by passing a clean indoor air ordinance.
2. Get involved with a local clean indoor air coalition.
3. Write letters to your local newspaper about the benefits of being smoke-free and for businesses to go smoke-free.
4. Contact your American Cancer Society to find out what is going on in your area.
5. Websites that offer clean air news and opportunities for the community to get involved are listed below:
A. http://www.cleanairkc.com/
B. http://www.no-smoke.org/
C. http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/
D. http://www.tobaccofreewichita.org/
E. http://www.cleanairlawrence.org/
F. http://www.cleanairmanhattan.org/
G. http://www.cleanairkansas.org/ (NOTE: This is the website of the Clean Air Kansas coalition, the group leading the effort for a statewide clean indoor air law. Please visit this site, submit your email address, and begin receiving updates on the statewide smoke-free efforts!)
RELAY FOR LIFE
Relay For Life season is in full swing! For information on our advocacy activities in relation to Relay For Life, please click here. If you would like to take part in the Advocacy program at your Relay, please contact Neil Robertson at neil.robertson@cancer.org.
Thank you for supporting your American Cancer Society. Together, we CAN make a difference! | 
