American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Legislative Session Update - Week 6

SAVE FLORIDA'S CANCER RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Week 6 Session Update
4/9/2010

While teacher tenure and pay issues dominated the Capitol Press Corp headlines in Week 6 of the 2010 Legislative Session, the budget remained on the minds of lawmakers and advocates. As we move closer to the budget conference process, our Advocacy Team is continuing to stress to Legislative leadership the importance of saving Florida’s biomedical research programs, which are set to expire on January 1, 2011 barring reauthorization by the Legislature. We realize no one is safe from budget cuts due to the massive $3.2 billion deficit, but we will continue to stress to members of both the House and the Senate the importance of reauthorizing and adequately funding the Florida’s biomedical research programs. Currently, the House budget would eliminate funding for the Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program altogether and would cut the King Biomedical Research Program by 92%.

This week, SB 620 by Sen. Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) received its third committee hearing, passing by a 6-0 margin in the Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee, chaired by Sen. Durrell Peaden (R-Crestview). The bill was amended, and no longer guarantees that each program will be funded equally, but it still contains an annual allocation of $50 million, subject to the yearly General Appropriations Act. The bill now moves on to its final committee of reference, the Policy and Steering Committee on Ways and Means, chaired by Sen. JD Alexander (R-Lake Wales). The House companion bill, HB 861 by Rep. Marti Coley (R-Niceville) remains in its first committee of reference, the Health Care Regulation Policy Committee, chaired by Rep. Nick Thompson (R-Ft. Myers).

Next Wednesday, April 12^th,the American Cancer Society will be holding a press conference at the Capitol to further the message that these programs are vital to the war on cancer in this state, which has the unfortunate distinction of having one of the highest cancer burdens in the country. Our bill sponsors and key stakeholders will join us to stress the importance of this funding, as well as the pending legislation.

As we reported last week, included in both the Senate and House budgets was our other major legislative priority, continued funding for Amendment 4, the Tobacco Prevention and Education Program. Both chambers have the Tobacco Prevention and Education Program appropriately funded at nearly $61.3 million. While there are differences in the way each chamber spends the money, our Advocacy Team is working with budget writers to urge that the money is spent in accordance with Florida’s Constitution and CDC Best Practices.

We are now heading into the final weeks of the 2010 Legislative Session. The budget conference process will begin shortly and we will continue to need our Grassroots Army to help Save Florida’s Cancer Research Programs. Please click on the link to access our alert: https://secure3.convio.net/acscan/site/Advocacy?alertId=5493&pg=makeACall. We appreciate your ongoing efforts in support of our life-saving mission. With your continued vigilance and timely action, we can have yet another successful session waging our battle against this insidious disease.

Yours in the Fight,

Paul

Paul Hull
Vice President, Advocacy & Public Policy
American Cancer Society, Florida Division

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