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Understand Iowa's political climate and its impact on cancer-related priorities. Review ACS CAN's state and federal legislative priorities and learn how to get involved in the fight against cancer.
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ACS CAN 2015Legislative Update Jen Schulte American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Objectives • Understand the state’s political climate and the impact on our priorities • Review ACS CAN’s state legislative priorities for Iowa • Review ACS CAN’s federal legislative priorities • Understand ACS CAN and how you can get involved
Iowa • Republican controlled House and Governor; Democrat controlled Senate • Legislative session began January 11 (100 days) • Legislative priorities: • Reduce skin cancer through limiting exposure to tanning devices • Increase funding for tobacco prevention program • Protect funding for lifesaving cancer research and screening programs • Reduce obesity by improving nutrition and increasing physical activity • Advance legislation to reduce the expose of radon
Tanning Prevention • Melanoma is one of the most common cancers among young people • Tanning device use before the age of 35 significantly increases the risk of melanoma • Tanning devices have been classified as carcinogenic to humans, the same as tobacco and asbestos • Over 1,000 new cases of melanoma are expected in Iowa this year
Tanning Restriction Bills • Would prohibit all youth under the age of 18 from using tanning devices • Two bills that are alive • SF232 • HF420 • Neither bill has language for parental consent or a medical exemption
Tobacco Prevention • Tobacco-related diseases remain Iowa’s most preventable cause of death • IA spends $1 billion in tobacco-related health care costs each year • These costs are borne by all Iowans regardless of whether they use tobacco products • Tobacco prevention and cessation services save lives and save money
Obesity Prevention • The prevalence of those who are obese in the U.S. has risen to 34% • Iowa has the 12th highest adult obesity rate in the nation (31.4 %, up from 23.4 % in 2004 and from 12.2 % in 1990) • Nearly 50 % of U.S. adults and 65 % of adolescents do not get the recommended amount of physical activity each day • People who have parks or recreational facilities nearby exercise 38 % more than those who do not have easy access • Adults and children need more places to be active
Safe Routes to School • In 2012, 4,743 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States, and another 76,000 pedestrians were injured • Eliminating one bus route, based on average per-pupil expenditure and average number of pupils per bus, would save a school district approximately $37,000 per year • People walking are more than twice as likely to be struck by a vehicle in locations without sidewalks
Radon • Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas that is produced from the day of natural occurring uranium in the soil • Unique situation in Iowa • Iowa’s radon concentrations are more than 6 times the national average • US EPA surveys in Iowa found that 70 percent of homes contain radon above the US EPA’s radon action level
Radon Prevention • A bill that would require short-term testing and retesting for radon at public school attendance centers: HF584 • Passed the committee in the House Local Government Committee • It has been referred to Education Committee
Health and Human Services Budget – Governor’s Recommendations • $5.3 million for tobacco use and control initiatives • $570,993 for comprehensive cancer control programs • $150,000 for melanoma research • $126,450 for colon & cervical screenings • $300,000 for cervical cancer screening program to a broader range of low income
Federal Campaign Issues • Appropriations for cancer research, prevention and early detection • One Degree Project • 6 billion increase for NIH with 1 billion going to NCI • Patient and survivor quality of life • Legislation to facilitate access to palliative care and coordinated care management for cancer patients and survivors • Addresses workforce needs, research and patient access with the goal of bringing palliative care to scale in the U.S. • Cancer Prevention and early detection – 80 Percent by 2018 • Support the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act • Would remove Medicare patient cost-sharing requirements for colorectal cancer screening
How you can get involved and join the fight! • Contact your elected officials • https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find • Become a member of ACS CAN • Help support a presence at the Iowa capitol and U.S. capitol to be a voice on cancer issues. • Stay up to date on state and federal legislative efforts • Receive action alerts when we need you to take action on important issues • Information related to volunteer trainings and ACS CAN events • www.acscan.org/donate
Final Questions? Any Final Questions?