American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Legislative Session Update - Week 7

SAVE FLORIDA'S CANCER RESEARCH PROGRAMS

Week 7 Session Update
4/16/2010

Week 7 of the 2010 Legislative Session was dominated with headlines regarding teacher tenure and pay, including a high-profile veto of that education legislation. However, the budget continues to be a hotly discussed topic by those in and around the Capitol. As the budget conference committee process begins this weekend, our Advocacy Team continues to stress to legislative leadership the importance of reauthorizing and adequately funding Florida’s biomedical research programs, which are set to expire on January 1, 2011 barring reauthorization by the Legislature. We realize that the massive $3.2 billion deficit has spared no one from potential budget cuts, but we will continue to stress to members of both the House and the Senate the importance of saving 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%.

While neither SB 620 by Sen. Don Gaetz (R-Niceville), nor HB 861 by Rep. Marti Coley (R-Niceville) moved this week, the American Cancer Society did hold a press conference at the Capitol with our bill sponsors and other key stakeholders to stress the importance of this funding and legislation. Both Sen. Gaetz and Rep. Coley implored leadership in their respective chambers to do the right thing and continue state funding for cancer research. Joining our bill sponsors were Sen. Thad Altman (R-Melbourne), chairman of the Senate Bio-Tech caucus, and Sen. Andy Gardiner (R-Orlando), both strong proponents of saving Florida’s biomedical research programs. SB 620 is currently in its final committee of reference, the Policy and Steering Committee on Ways and Means, chaired by Sen. JD Alexander (R-Lake Wales), while HB 861 remains in its original committee of reference, the Health Care Regulation Policy Committee, chaired by Rep. Nick Thompson (R-Ft. Myers).

In these final weeks of the 2010 session, I encourage to visit www.acscan.org/florida often to see how you can help advocate for these life-saving programs through our Action Alert Center.

Also 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 program appropriately funded in total, at nearly $61.3 million. While there are differences in the way each chamber allocates the funds, 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 headed into the final two weeks of the 2010 Legislative Session. As the budget conference process begins, we will need our Grassroots Army more than ever in order to help Save Florida’s Cancer Research Programs. 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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