WASHINGTON, D.C. -- April 13, 2011 -- The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote today on a proposal to repeal the new Prevention and Public Health Fund, which is making an unprecedented investment in proven prevention programs in communities nationwide. Following is a statement from Christopher W. Hansen, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):
"People with cancer and their families are counting on Congress to implement critical patient protections that improve access to quality health care. Unfortunately, Congress is considering proposals that would take the country backward by repealing or weakening some of those protections.
"Repealing the new Prevention and Public Health Fund would reverse an unprecedented nationwide effort to refocus the health care system on keeping people healthy instead of treating them when they get sick -- an approach that has long been supported by numerous public health experts. These funds are being spent in communities nationwide to help ensure that Americans have access to life-saving cancer screenings, reduce tobacco use among kids and adults and combat the epidemic of obesity that is contributing to diagnoses of cancer.
"Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle should be working together to expand access to proven preventive measures such as mammography and colonoscopy, tobacco cessation counseling and programs that promote good nutrition and physical activity, rather than debating proposals that would hamper those efforts.
"On behalf of people with cancer and their families nationwide, ACS CAN urges lawmakers to defeat these proposals and instead to work to implement these and other critical patient protections as effectively as possible."
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Steve Weiss or Alissa Havens
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Phone: (202) 661-5711 or(202) 661-5772
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]