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Administration delays rules to end sale of menthol cigarettes

On Friday, April 26, the White House announced it is indefinitely delaying finalization of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed rule to end the sale of menthol cigarettes, without mention of eliminating all flavors in cigars, despite an overwhelming amount of evidence demonstrating menthol flavoring is a serious public health risk.

"The White House fell for industry rhetoric and, as a result, public health will suffer," said Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. "For the last two years, the Biden Administration has had the opportunity to take a significant step in their cancer moonshot goal to end cancer as we know it by reducing tobacco use, responsible for more than 30% of all cancer deaths. Today’s announcement that they will not take action anytime soon deals a significant blow to that goal.

“This shocking announcement comes during the same month the White House declared as National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month and days before the two-year anniversary of the proposed rules,” said Lisa Lacasse, president of ACS CAN. “With 30% of all cancer deaths due to smoking, it is hard to imagine how the president can meet the goals of the Cancer Moonshot without meaningfully addressing tobacco use.

Big Tobacco has used these products for decades to target Black communities, who, as a result, co​​nsistently report the highest prevalence of menthol cigarette use. 83.1% of Black people who smoke using menthol cigarettes, as compared to 56.5% of Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander people who smoke, 48% of Hispanic people who smoke, 41.5% of Asian people who smoke and 31.6% of White people who smoke.

Big Tobacco continues to target youth with their cigars, cigarillos, and little cigars which are all sold in appealing flavors such as menthol, banana, mango, grape, Tropical Twist, Purple Swish and chocolate. An estimated 420,000 U.S. students currently used cigars in 2023. Youth who are Black, or Hispanic or Latino are twice as likely to regularly smoke cigars than their White peers. Citing these alarming statistics, 32 members of the Congressional Black Caucus sent a letter to the FDA in August supporting these new rules.

Instead of taking these deadly products off the market, which could save as many as 654,000 lives, including the lives of more than 238,000 African Americans, over the next 40 years, according to modeling studies, the administration is giving the tobacco industry free rein to continue to deepen these disparities and addict a new, younger generation.

“The longer the delay, the more people who get lured into a lifetime of tobacco addiction,” said Lacasse, and added: “The administration should refrain from giving deference and more time to conversations with an industry and groups carrying the message of an industry who benefits from addicting new customers, and instead rely on irrefutable evidence that prohibiting flavors is critical to reducing health disparities and ending cancer as we know it, for everyone.”

Prohibiting menthol in cigarettes and all flavors in cigars would help reduce tobacco initiation among youth and stimulate cessation among adults who smoke, saving lives from tobacco-related diseases like cancer. Research from the American Cancer Society examined the impact on the sale of cigarettes of a Massachusetts law that restricted the sale of all flavored tobacco products in the state and found that this action decreased the sale of menthol cigarettes, contributing to a reduction in overall cigarette sales.

For more than a decade, ACS CAN has been urging the FDA to prohibit menthol cigarettes as part of our ongoing call to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products. ACS CAN once again calls on the White House to commit to its Cancer Moonshot goal and take meaningful action to reduce tobacco-related cancers. ACS CAN will continue its work with federal, state and local lawmakers to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products. Our ability to continue to make progress against cancer relies on implementation of evidence-based tobacco control policies and programs, which prevent youth and young adults from becoming addicted to tobacco products and help individuals who currently use these products to quit.

For more information, please visit fightcancer.org/what-we-do/tobacco-control.


  • ACS CAN hosts National Policy Forum on May 9

    On Thursday, May 9, from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. ET, ACS CAN will host its 13th annual National Forum on the Future of Health Care at the Ronald Regan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. This year’s joint in-person and virtual event will focus on the complexities of medical debt and its implications for cancer patients and their families. The photo is from last year's event.

    The free, in-person and live-streamed event is open to staff and to the public. Please register at fightcancer.org/nationalforum and share within your networks.

    Eva Stahl, Vice President of Undue Medical Debt and Michael Perry, Partner and Co-Founder of PerryUndem, will be this year’s keynote speakers. They will offer insight into the unique challenges faced by many cancer patients and survivors experiencing medical debt and the opportunities available to change policies to help prevent that debt or minimize its impact.

    ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse will extend opening remarks followed by panels of leading experts who will focus on various aspects of navigating medical debt challenges. To learn more information about each panelist, visit the event’s website.

    • Panel 1: Preventing Medical Debt – Discussion on public policy solutions necessary to prevent medical debt before it occurs.
    • Panel 2: Reducing the Impact of Medical Debt – Dialogue on how to reduce the impact of medical debt on patients, survivors, and their families by changing how debt is collected and reported, reducing interest rates, and providing patient navigation.
    • Luncheon Conversation: Diagnosis: Debt – A national reporter will share their experiences writing about medical debt in an award-winning series of investigations.
    • Spotlight on Research Conversation: Leading researchers will discuss how they approach probing questions related to medical debt.
    • Panel 3: Innovative Solutions – Perspectives on how organizations can help people with cancer and their families stay out of medical debt or deal with the impacts of debt.

    For additional information about ACS CAN’s 13th Annual National Forum on the Future of Health Care, please contact Chelsea Herman at chelsea.herman@cancer.org. View the forum’s full agenda and register to attend on the event’s website at fightcancer.org/nationalforum​.

  • ACS CAN joins Black Voters Matter for Sick and Tired Bus Tour

    ​From April 19- 25, ACS CAN is joining Black Voters Matter (BVM) to host a multi-state bus tour to spotlight Southern states that have refused to expand Medicaid eligibility. The bus tour part of ACS CAN’s ongoing advocacy work to increase policymaker knowledge on the importance of insurance coverage and Medicaid expansion’s role in healthier communities.

    The Sick and Tired Bus Tour, is an extension of BV​​M’s relaunched campaign to target the 10 remaining non-expansion states that are largely concentrated in the South and include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

    Since 2022, ACS CAN has partnered with BVM as a 501c3 civic education nonprofit on outreach events in Black communities throughout Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Alabama. ACS CAN values its collaboration with BVM to help educate and engage new advocates for Medicaid expansion, health equity and its overall advocacy work toward the fight to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.

    “ACS CAN is thrilled to deepen our partnership with Black Voters Matter to call attention to the importance of Medicaid expansion and the critical role it plays in addressing long-standing, life-threatening health disparities,” said ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse. “Research continues to show one of the most significant factors in surviving a cancer diagnosis is access to comprehensive, affordable health coverage, and its long past time the 10 states that have yet to increase access to coverage through Medicaid see this reality and recognize their delay is costing people their lives."

    As part of the bus tour, ACS CAN and BVM will travel across Southern states – Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, for an “In Due Season" health equity film sneak preview and discussion, as well as community-centered health and wellness fairs.

    The Sick and Tired Bus Tour is free and open to the public. See location details below.

    April 19 - Memphis, TN | Location: Abyssinian Baptist Church - 3890 Millbranch Rd, Memphis, TN
    • ​​11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. CT: Documentary preview screening & health and wellness fair with community resources

    April 19 - Tupelo, MS | Location: North Mississippi AgriBusiness - 1995 Pine Grove Road, Shannon, MS
    • 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. CT: Documentary preview screening & health and wellness fair with community resources.

    April 20 - Jackson, MS | Location: T. Matthews MB Church — 3660 Fontaine Ave Jackson, MS
    • 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. CT: Documentary preview screening & health and wellness fair with community resources, fellowship hall, food truck.

    April 21 - Montgomery, AL | Location: Stonetank Antioch Missionary Baptist Church — 6515 Old Selma Road, Montgomery, AL
    • 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CT: Documentary preview screening, health and wellness fair & Sunday Service fellowship meal and discussion.

    April 22 - Atlanta, GA | Location: St. Phillip AME Church — 240 Candler Road, Atlanta, GA
    • 5:00 p.m. ET: Documentary preview screening, panel discussion focused on women’s health disparities.

    April 23 - Macon, GA | Location: Crate X Coworking Space — 551 Cherry Street, Macon, GA
    • ​4:00 - 6:00 p.m. ET: Local canvassing
    • 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET: Documentary preview screening, panel discussion, mixer for minority & small business owners, wellness checks.

    April 24 - Albany, GA | Location: C&H Event Center -– 2310 West Gordon Avenue, Albany, GA
    • 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. ET: Documentary preview screening, panel discussion, healthcare fair

    April 25 - Tallahassee, FL | Location: Neighborhood Medical Center — 872 West Orange Avenue, Tallahassee, FL
    • ​1:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET: Local canvassing, documentary preview screening, health and wellness checks, party with purpose.
    • 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. ET: Screening discussion led by FAMU medical students

    For more information and to join the conversation on closing the coverage gap, visit ACS CAN’s we​bsite​.

    ​

  • ACS CAN NC volunteer introduces President Biden at local event

    ACS CAN North Carolina volunteer Lori Kelley introduced President Joe Biden and shared her personal journey of navigating the Medicaid coverage gap alongside him and Vice President Kamala Harris during a recent Affordable Care Act (ACA) event at the John Chavis Community Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

    Pictured above are: ACS CAN State & Local Outreach Manager Dustin Sergent; ACS CAN North Carolina Volunteer Lori Kelley; and ACS CAN Senior Outreach Manager of State & Local Campaigns Tomica Smith.

    The event took place just after the 14th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act and the first anniversary of the signing of North Carolina Medicaid expansion legislation. ACS CAN played a key role in the passage of both pieces of legislation.

    Lori, who is from Harrisburg, North Carolina, was diagnosed in 2008 with a progressive eye disease that limited her ability to function in daily activities, such as driving and going to work. After being locked out of affordable health care for 16 years, she had to delay screenings and receiving medical attention for her health issues.

    After North Carolina Medicaid expansion enrollment opened in December 2023, ACS CAN’s State and Local Campaigns Medicaid team ran a statewide Facebook advertisement campaign in North Carolina to collect stories from individuals who successfully enrolled. Lori eagerly responded to one of the ads after wondering if she would qualify for Medicaid expansion. She later applied with confidence and was thrilled to receive a letter stating she was enrolled in Medicaid.

    When the White House contacted ACS CAN to inquire if testimonials were available from individuals who were benefiting from Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, Lori’s story was one of many shared with White House personnel and she was later selected to introduce President Biden at the North Carolina ACA event. Lori’s introduction not only set the stage for President Biden’s address, but also served as a powerful testament to the resilience, courage, and determination of individuals like her who continue to advocate tirelessly for access to equitable health care.

    “Because of Medicaid expansion and the tireless advocacy work to close the gap, now I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to pay for surgery or the routine care that I need," Lori said. “I have peace of mind now. I know there are millions like me with similar stories. I am truly grateful for the blessing that this is and continues to be for myself and so many others.”

    As a mother of three and grandmother of six, Lori's presence on such a significant platform exemplifies the invaluable role of storytelling in advocacy and policymaking. By sharing her personal experience, she not only elevated the conversation surrounding health care reform, but also amplified the voices of countless others who find themselves in similar circumstances.

    Visit pbs.org to watch the ACA event. To learn more about how ACS CAN is working to close the Medicaid coverage gap for all, visit Medicaid Covers US | American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

  • April Advocacy Update

    ​A big thank you to our ACS CAN team and volunteers who make our success possible!

    A message from ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse

    In just the first three months of the year, ACS CAN’s team and volunteers around the country have done tremendous work to advance our cancer priorities. Congress finally passed the FY 24 appropriations bill on March 23, which included increases to funding for cancer research and prevention. Our tremendous grassroots advocacy was powered by our outstanding volunteers directly contacting Members of Congress 124,526 times via email, phone calls, and tagging them on social media to advocate for our priorities related to FY24 funding! ACS CAN’s social media channels generated 860,000+ impressions and our Fight Cancer: Make Time appropriations-focused ad campaign was successful, driving 32 million impressions and 92,000+ clicks to our website.

    We are proud that our campaign and grassroots efforts yielded mission impact through increased funds for cancer research and cancer programs including: 

    • A $300 million increase in funding for the NIH’s base budget, including a $120 million increase in discretionary funding for the NCI.
    • A $500,000 increase for CDC cancer screening and prevention programs.
    • Level funding for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) at $1.5 billion. 
    • At NIH, a first-time appropriation of $12.5 million in dedicated funding for the development of palliative care research and a new $6 million initiative for Improving Native American Cancer Outcomes.
    • Within the Department of Defense, $110 million for the Prostate Cancer Research Program.

    Amidst a difficult budget year, we are pleased to see Congress meet this pivotal moment to ensure lifesaving treatments and advancements continue by building on our nation’s fiscal commitment to the fight against cancer. A big thank you to our ACS CAN team and volunteers who made this success possible!

    Though the progress made towards reducing the cancer burden is undeniable, much work remains. Ahead of the President’s State of the Union Address last month, we asked the Administration to finalize the FDA’s proposed rules to eliminate menthol in cigarettes and all flavors in cigars as continued delays put more lives at risk. I was pleased to see the President renew his commitment to ending cancer as we know it, for everyone during his address. We share the President’s belief that cancer priorities including the Affordable Care Act, supporting veterans exposed to toxins, and prescription drug access are as crucial as ever. However, we know that ending cancer as we know it will take more than commitment; now is the time to act. We will continue to push until the FDA’s rules are finalized.

    March also marked the 14th anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act, for which ACS CAN was a leading advocate. To mark the occasion, we urged Congress to preserve the critical patient protections guaranteed by the ACA by maintaining access to cost-free preventive care and making enhanced Marketplace subsidies permanent before their expiration date at the end of the next year.

    In March I also had the honor of participating in a briefing on Capitol Hill, hosted by ACS CAN and US Pharmacopeia focused on drug shortages. Although not a daily headline anymore, ACS CAN continues to keep this critical patient access issue visible in order to push toward long-term policy interventions that will create solutions. We heard from panelists including ACS CAN’s Mark Fleury, PhD, ‪Principal, Policy Development - Emerging Science, who shared important insights. As we know from ACS CAN’s Survivor Views Survey, one in ten cancer patients in active treatment have been impacted by drug shortages. Alongside our partners who are part of a drug shortage task force, we are committed to advocating for solutions that prevent future shortages and improve access to critical medicines for all patients.

    I am looking forward to the work that’s to come in April and I appreciate your continued commitment.

    As part of ACS CAN’s ongoing commitment to making cancer care affordable for everyone, ACS CAN's 2024 Forum on the Future of Health Care on May 9th will focus on alleviating the burden of medical debt many cancer patients, survivors and their families face. 

    Please register to join us in-person or virtually. 

    In Case You Missed It:

    ACS CAN Represented at Protecting Our Care in the Courts Panel 

    ACS CAN participated in Protect Our Care’s panel discussion on Protecting Our Care in the Courts, highlighting three key legal battles that threaten Americans’ health care: Braidwood v. Becerra, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, and the cases seeking to overturn the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. Mary Rouvelas, Managing Counsel and Legal Advocacy Director at ACS CAN spoke on the Threats to Preventive Care Panel, and was joined at the event by Former Solicitor General of the United States Don Verrilli and other leading legal, economic, and health experts. Watch the replay.

    Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated’s Annual Delta Days in the Nation’s Capital

    ACS and ACS CAN hosted a panel on “Addressing the Cancer Burden in the Black Community” at the 35th Annual Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated Delta Days in the Nation’s Capital event. Tawana Thomas Johnson, ACS Senior Vice-President and Chief Diversity Officer spoke at the event as well Tammy Boyd, JD, ACS CAN Vice President, Federal Advocacy and Strategic Alliances, to a group of over 1,200. The panel focused on advocating for public policies at the federal level to help reduce disparities in cancer and improve health outcomes for Black Americans. Ashley Etienne, former Communications Director to Vice President Kamala Harris, served as our moderator, and executives from the National Medical Association and Pfizer were featured speakers on the panel.

    Congressional Briefing: Cancer and Obesity

    ACS CAN hosted the Congressional Briefing: Cancer and Obesity with the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA). Dr. Elena Rios, President & CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), moderated the virtual briefing. Rep. Ruiz, Raul (D-CA-25), gave opening remarks. Presentations were delivered by Dr. Lauren Teras, Senior Scientific Director, Epidemiology Research American Cancer Society; Dr. Pascale C. Jean, Assistant Director for Nutrition and Health Cancer Moonshot Project, Health Outcomes Division, OSTP, The White House, and others.

    State Updates

    Indiana Expands Critical Access to Biomarker Testing

    ACS CAN celebrated Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb's signing of SB273 into law, requiring public and private insurers to cover biomarker testing. Indiana is the 15th state to expand access to this critical testing that is helping extend and improve lives by tailoring care and treatment to a person’s specific type of cancer. ACS CAN will continue working with lawmakers to remove barriers to precision treatment.

    West Virginia Senate Rejects Flawed Biomarkers Legislation

    ACS CAN applauds the West Virginia Senate for rejected flawed biomarker testing legislation, which was supposed to allow West Virginians to access the testing they need but fell short of this goal after amendments that stripped the bill of any meaningful improvement in access. ACS CAN and 36 other organizations opposed the legislation.

    Alabama Passes Legislation to Protect Access to IVF

    Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation into law that will protect access to IVF, allowing some clinics to resume treatment immediately. Fertility preservation care is essential for more than two-thirds of adolescents and young adults newly diagnosed with cancer, and ACS CAN is glad to see Alabama take this step toward preserving access to this critical care.

    Florida Legislature Takes Critical Step to Expand Access to Biomarker Testing

    The Florida legislature passed a bill expanding access to biomarker testing, a key tool used by healthcare providers to provide patients with targeted cancer therapies. The bill requires coverage for biomarker testing when supported by scientific and medical evidence under Florida Medicaid and state employee health insurance plans. We urge lawmakers to push further to require coverage for the private market. ACS CAN will continue working with lawmakers to secure access for all Floridians.

    Georgia Legislature Holds First-Ever Hearing on Medicaid Expansion

    The Georgia Senate Regulated Industries Committee held a hearing on Medicaid expansion, the first time the Georgia legislature has held a hearing on this topic. Legislators from both parties expressed substantial support for the prospect of building on existing progress made towards closing the coverage gap in Georgia. Over the past month, ACS CAN put out digital, video, and radio ad content advocating for measures to close the coverage gap, which generated over 3 million impressions statewide. ACS CAN is well-positioned heading into the 2025 legislative session, and will continue working with our partners on the ground in Georgia, including Georgia First and BRIDGE coalition, to push this work forward.

    Idaho Postpartum Bill

    Legislation that would extend Medicaid coverage for up to 12 months postpartum passed the House and the Senate and is awaiting signature by the Governor. This is a positive step toward improving the health outcomes of women and their children. Ensuring individuals and families have access to health coverage for a full year postpartum is a critical

    Federal Updates

    ACS CAN Praises Advancement of Critical Legislation to Improve Access to Breast and Cervical Cancer Screenings in the House

    The House Energy and Commerce Committee marked up the Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS) for Cancer Act, bipartisan legislation that would reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) through 2028 and continue to expand access to expand access to critical breast and cervical cancer screenings and treatment in underserved and underinsured communities nationwide. The Senate version of the bill, S.1840, was marked up by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in late 2023. ACS CAN urges Congress to pass this legislation to help reduce the unequal cancer burden and save more lives.

    Biden Cancer Moonshot Announces Expanded Coverage for Patient Navigation

    The Biden Cancer Moonshot announced the expansion of coverage for patient navigation services in plans from seven health insurance companies, as well as actions being taken by more than 40 cancer centers and community oncology practices across the country to help patients be reimbursed for these critical services. ACS CAN advocated for reimbursement for non-clinical navigation in Medicare, which took effect on January 1, 2024, a meaningful first step toward expanded and sustainable access to critical services for patients with cancer and other serious illnesses. Patient navigation can help reduce barriers to care, and the President’s announcement takes us further towards increasing access to it.

    Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Finalizes Rule to Prohibit Asbestos

    The EPA announced a final rule to prohibit use of asbestos, a known cancer-causing agent. ACS CAN applauded the EPA for taking a first step to ban asbestos in the U.S. We continue to urge Congress to pass the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2023, that would protect Americans from all types of asbestos. 

    Legislation Supporting Indian Health Service

    We are continuing to work to elevate the voices of Indigenous and Tribal communities. As part of the FY 24 appropriations bill, we were pleased to see legislation that provides $10.88 billion for Tribal programs across the Department of the Interior and the Indian Health Service. Congress also cleared its second minibus appropriations package (H.R. 2882), which included funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The legislation provides $6,000,000 for the creation of an Initiative for Improving Native American Cancer Outcomes to support efforts including research, education, outreach, and clinical access related to cancer in Native American populations. The agreement further directs the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) to work with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to locate this Initiative at an NCI-designated cancer center demonstrating partnerships with Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations to improve the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of cancers among Native Americans, particularly those living in rural communities.

    Advocacy in the News 

    • Bloomberg Law: Obamacare Case Threatens Sweeping Loss of Preventative Care

    • CBS Mornings: Partisan Gridlock in Congress contrasts with bipartisan efforts in some statehouses

    • The Lancet: Alabama Supreme Court’s “extrauterine children” decision alarms oncologists and fertility experts

    • El Nuevo Herald: We Must Increase Access to Cancer Screenings in Florida (Spanish)

    • WRTV IN: Governor Holcomb signs bill that will require insurance to cover biomarker testing

    • WV Watch: Biomarker testing bill fails, Cancer Society hopes to try again

    • Telemundo: Giant Lungs At The Missouri Capitol Aim to Raise Awareness About Cancer (Spanish)

    • Denver Post: Colon cancer is increasing in younger Coloradans even as death rate drops for people over 55

    • PBS: Mississippi is closer than ever to expanding Medicaid. What are the barriers?



  • Congress passes spending bill

    ​ACS CAN campaign results in progress toward cancer research and screening funding amid difficult FY24 budget cycle.​

    On March 23, Congress passed and President Biden signed into law the Fiscal Year (FY) 24 appropriations bill, which included modest funding increases for cancer research and screening and prevention programs critical to reducing the cancer burden.

    Through an intensive grassroots and legislative advocacy campaign, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urged Congress to prioritize cancer research and prevention and early detection. Amid a tough budget cycle, this tremendous advocacy work resulted in the following being included in the spending bill: 

    • A $300 million increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) base budget, including a $120 million increase in discretionary funding for the NCI.
    • A $500,000 increase for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cancer screening and prevention programs.
    • Level funding for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) at $1.5 billion.
    • At NIH, a first-time appropriation of $12.5 million in dedicated funding for the development of palliative care research and a new $6 million initiative for Improving Native American Cancer Outcomes.
    • Within the Department of Defense (DoD), $110 million in funding for the Prostate Cancer Research Program.

    Throughout its advocacy campaign, ACS CAN volunteers directly contacted members of Congress 124,526 times leading up to the vote in support of the funding bill. ACS CAN also engaged in the following campaign activities: 

    • ACS CAN volunteers sent 123,191 emails to lawmakers and made 590 in person visits to U.S. Senate and U.S. House offices. ACS CAN also ensured 6,207 phone calls were placed into congressional offices in support of the appropriations campaign.
    • ACS CAN launched a national Fight Cancer: Make Time ad campaign in Washington, D.C., to highlight ACS CAN’ ask to increase funding for NIH, NCI, and CDC programs. Ads ran in several publications including the New York Times, Punchbowl, Politico and Axios. This resulted in social media driving nearly 32 million impressions and more than 92,000 clicks to ACS CAN’s website.
    • ACS CAN volunteers tweeted to lawmakers 958 times, in addition to organic social content on ACS CAN’s National social media channels, which generated more than 860,000 impressions.
    • ACS CAN-led coalition One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) hosted several lobby days with more than 235 meetings with lawmakers, including with congressional leadership. OVAC also ran ads that garnered more than 1.2 million impressions and 6,000 clicks to OVAC content.
    • ACS CAN drove 64 national and regional media hits and 65 letters to the editor to elevate the cancer voice.

    “We appreciate Congress’ continued support in prioritizing vital funding for cancer research in the face of significant budget constraints and are extremely grateful for new funding initiatives at NIH to support palliative care and improve cancer outcomes for Native Americans,” said ACS CAN CEO Dr. Karen E. Knudsen. “Unfortunately, the fiscal constraints coupled with the end of mandatory funding for Cancer Moonshot places overall funding levels behind last year and well below necessary levels to continue pace in progress in the fight against cancer.

    “We can’t afford to lose momentum,” Dr. Knudsen added. “We call on Congress to advance an overall funding agenda that allows for robust, sustained increases in funding for NIH, NCI and CDC to ensure the strong and meaningful fiscal growth necessary to truly accelerate tomorrow’s cures and lead us to a future where the cancer burden is significantly reduced for everyone.”

    ACS CAN will continue to advocate for an increase in cancer research and prevention and early detection program funding for the FY25 appropriations bill. For more information on ACS CAN’s official statement, visit fightcancer.org.


  • ACS CAN celebrates anniversary of Affordable Care Act

    ​Group continues to urge lawmakers and courts to preserve and build on critical patient protections.​

    As one of the leading patient advocacy groups that advocated for the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is celebrating the impact of the historic law ahead of its 14th anniversary on Saturday. ACS CAN is marking the milestone by urging Congress, state lawmakers and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to protect and strengthen the critical patient protections of the ACA. 

    “The anniversary of the Affordable Care Act marks a historic day in the fight against cancer. Since the ACA was signed into law 14 years ago, millions of Americans – many of whom are cancer patients and survivors or may one day be diagnosed with the disease – have gained a path to affordable, quality coverage through the ACA. In fact, record enrollment continues today with more than 21.3 million individuals enrolled in Marketplace plans in 2024 alone,” said Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “American Cancer Society research continues to show a connection between lack of access to meaningful health care and late-stage cancer diagnosis, underscoring the critical role health insurance coverage plays in survivorship. While the ACA has been lifesaving in providing accessible care to those who need it most by allowing 40 states to expand Medicaid, it’s critical we continue to implement, strengthen and preserve the ACA so that all families touched by cancer have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer including by increasing Medicaid eligibility in the 10 remaining states that have refused to do so.” 

    The implementation of the ACA ushered in many provisions that have meaningfully improved the health care system for cancer patients, survivors, and their families. ACS CAN continues to advocate for lawmakers and the courts to protect and strengthen these existing provisions including: 

    • Urging the Fifth Circuit to preserve access to no-cost preventive care in the case of Braidwood v. Becerra.
    • Urging Congress to make enhanced Marketplace subsidies permanent before they expire at the end of 2025.
    • Urging state lawmakers to further expand access to affordable, quality health coverage by expanding access to Medicaid in the 10 states that have yet to do so. 

    “Nearly 15 years later, access to affordable health care coverage continues to be at the core of health conversations from the doctor’s office to Capitol Hill, with affordability being the leading policy priority for cancer patients and survivors today,” said Lisa Lacasse, president of ACS CAN. “Record enrollment in Marketplace plans after the ACA was implemented was due in large part to the generosity of subsidies that made care affordable and today, even relatively low costs of $1 or $5 stop Americans from seeking preventive lifesaving screenings. Now more than ever, we need Congress and our nation’s courts to preserve the critical patient protections guaranteed by the ACA by maintaining access to cost-free preventive care and making enhanced Marketplace subsidies permanent before their expiration date at the end of the next year.” 


  • President’s FY25 budget prioritizes funding for cancer research and prevention

    ​ACS CAN to Congress: Commit to robust funding to promote continued progress in fight against cancer.​

    The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is pleased to see President Biden’s continued focus on and dedication to achieving the goal of the Cancer Moonshot to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.  

    As part of his FY25 budget proposal released on March 11, the president prioritized reducing the cancer burden nationwide through sustained investment in accelerated research at the Advanced Research Projects Agency on Health (ARPA-H) and increased investment in cancer prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  

    The budget also included a proposal to reauthorize the 21st Century Cures Act Cancer Moonshot Program through FY26 by providing $2.9 billion in mandatory funding for more than two years and increases for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI). The proposal would increase the CDC Cancer Programs by $90 million during FY23, including a $45 million increase for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.  

    The following are statement from ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse on the president’s FY25 budget release: 

    “We’re pleased to see President Biden continue to identify opportunities to focus our nation’s investment on addressing the more than 200 diseases known as cancer, particularly amidst a difficult budget year.  

    “The progress made in reducing our nation’s cancer mortality rate is undeniable, but much work remains. On behalf of the 2 million individuals who will hear the words: ‘you have cancer’ and the families of more than 611,000 who are expected to die from the disease in America this year, Congress must build on the president’s budget and prioritize funding in the fight against cancer so we can end cancer as we know it, for everyone.”    

    On federal research funding... 

    “A proposed increase of $871.5 million over FY23 million for NIH, including an increase of $522 million for NCI as well as   $1.5 billion for ARPA-H, and a proposal to reauthorize the 21st Century Cures Act, which includes $2.9 billion for the Cancer Moonshot, through FY2026,would continue to build on the critical advances we’ve made to date and spur further discovery that is essential to further saving lives from cancer.  

    “It is clear the president is keenly focused on accelerating discovery, and research has been and will continue to be paramount to our ability to achieve the goals of the Moonshot. We will continue to elevate the importance of NCI’s work and advocate for robust increases year over year to maximize our potential in ending cancer as we know it, for everyone.  

    On federal cancer prevention programs... 

    “A funding increase for cancer control programs like the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and the Office of Smoking and Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would further promote proven cancer prevention and early detection. It is imperative that federal resources are dedicated to applying what we know and promoting discovery for the cancers that remain deadly. 

    On clinical trials... 

    “The federal government has played an instrumental role in cancer advances and discovery over the last half century. Clinical trials conducted through the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI’s) National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) are estimated to have extended the lives of patients with cancer in the U.S. by at least 14.2 million life-years. As the largest public funder in the fight against cancer, that investment by the federal government must be prioritized to ensure progress to achieve the Moonshot goals continues. 

    On access to affordable, quality care...

    “Equitable access to affordable, comprehensive care is imperative to truly realize the potential of the advances we have made and will make in how we prevent, detect, and treat cancer and promote survivorship. “Making expanded Marketplace subsidies permanent and closing the Medicaid coverage gap in states that have yet to expand Medicaid both play a pivotal role in achieving the president’s ambitious Moonshot goal of significantly reducing cancer incidence and deaths in the next 25 years. We will continue to strongly advocate for these policy interventions that are proven to help people access and afford their health care.” 

    On paid medical and family leave... 

    “Furthermore, having access to paid medical and family leave is critical for cancer patients, caregivers and survivors. ACS CAN research has found that a majority (74%) of cancer patients and survivors say they missed work due to their illness, most of whom reported missing more than four weeks of work. If we are to significantly reduce cancer deaths, we must work to ensure individuals aren’t forced to choose between their treatment and their employment. 



  • President highlights cancer priorities in State of the Union address

    ​Priorities critical to achieving Cancer Moonshot goal, ACS CAN says.

    During his State of the Union Address on March 7, President Joe Biden called for policy change to address the cancer burden. The president highlighted several priorities critical to reaching his ambitious Cancer Moonshot goal of significantly reducing cancer incidence and deaths in the next 25 years.

    Noting that “we can do big things like end cancer as we know it,” the president called for continued federal investment in medical research through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), which focuses explicitly on bold, transformative, and applied research projects. Increased federal investment in medical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has long been an advocacy priority for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).

    "We're proud to see the president's continued commitment to end cancer as we know it, for everyone, by sustained and significant federal investment in medical research through ARPA-H,” American Cancer Society (ACS) and ACS CAN CEO Dr. Karen E. Knudsen said in response. “Building on our nation's core investment in cancer research at the NIH and NCI, as well as additional funding for ARPA-H, are essential to reducing our country's cancer incidence and mortality rates, particularly as cancer incidence rates are expected to reach an all-time high this year.”

    Dr. Knudsen also noted, “We are making incredible strides against the more than 200 diseases that we call cancer. But this progress and future breakthroughs are at risk if we let up on our commitment to cancer research. We look forward to working with the president and Congress to build on our nation's federal investment in the fight against cancer through ARPA-H so that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer."

    President Biden also urged Congress to lower the cost of prescription drugs so that cancer patients can afford treatment, and support making enhanced Marketplace subsidies permanent to allow more people access to affordable care. 

    “We applaud the president for his commitment to equitable access to care by calling on Congress to make enhanced Marketplace subsidies permanent and allow more people access to affordable care,” said Dr. Knudsen. “Without action, many cancer patients who are undergoing treatment will face skyrocketing premiums when the current extension expires. We look forward to working with the president and Congress to make the enhanced credits permanent so that individuals facing a cancer diagnosis can receive the comprehensive care they need.”

    In addition, the President also mentioned signing the PACT Act in law, which expands Veterans Administration health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. 
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