2026 District of Columbia Legislative Priorities

Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, and expand access to quality, affordable health care. Lawmakers make many decisions that impact the lives of Washingtonians impacted by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease. In 2026 the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) will work with the District of Columbia Council and the Bowser Administration on legislative and regulatory efforts that will protect and provide affordable, adequate access to health insurance including Medicaid, ensure adequate funding for lifesaving cancer screening and prevention programs, and enact prevention policies to protect kids from tobacco products and help support those who are trying to quit. We will be making the following fact-based policies a priority and ask for your support:

Ensuring Access to Quality Care

• Affordable, Adequate Health Insurance: ACS CAN will advocate for policies that ensure access to quality, affordable and comprehensive health insurance including Medicaid. This includes implementing new federal Medicaid provisions such as work reporting requirements and cost-sharing in the least harmful way possible to mitigate coverage losses.. ACS CAN will also support efforts to curb the availability of inadequate health plans.
• Medical Debt Relief: ACS CAN will advocate legislation that will require large health care facilities to offer payment plans to low-income patients with unpaid medical bills and prohibit the reporting of medical debt to credit reporting agencies.

Cancer Prevention and Early Detection

• Breast and Cervical Cancer: ACS CAN will advocate to sustain Project WISH, the city’s breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment program for low-income uninsured and underinsured women administered by the District’s Department of Health.

Reducing the Toll of Tobacco

• Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding: ACS CAN will work to maintain funding for fact-based, citywide tobacco prevention and cessation programs at $1.9 million.