Virginia, U.S House District 5
Jeff Clark
Independent
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Independent
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Robert Hurt
Republican
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Republican
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Tom Perriello
Democrat
Democrat
below to view candidate responses to each question.CANCER RESEARCH AND PREVENTION
The federal government is, by far, the largest funder of cancer research and prevention, and for many years, ACS CAN has called for a significant increase in funding for cancer research. The President and other national leaders have called for the doubling of cancer research funding over eight years. As a member of Congress, will you commit to work for a doubling of cancer research funding over the next eight years?
ANSWER: Tom Perriello Democrat
Response provided by candidate
Yes
I am proud to represent Charlottesville, home of the UVA Cancer Center and one of two National Cancer Institute designated cancer centers in the entire commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia received over $86 million in grants and contracts from the National Cancer Institute in 2009, making a significant contribution not only to cancer research but also to local economic development and job growth. Each year, over 36,000 Virginians are diagnosed with cancer. I strongly support increased funding for cancer research so we can make a dramatic improvement in the health and quality of life of cancer patients.
ANSWER: ACS CAN
In recent years, we have made great progress in the war on cancer through investments in these areas. However, if we cut or slow down funding now, progress made in reducing cancer death rates and medical breakthroughs could come to a screeching halt. Cancer kills more than 560,000 Americans and costs the economy more than $228 billion every year. Fortunately, cancer death rates have been declining since 1999 and we now have approximately 11 million cancer survivors living in the U.S. Investing in research and prevention is the surest way to continue to reduce human suffering and the economic burden caused by cancer. Support from Congress is leading to the development of new tools for early detection and cancer fighting treatments that are still in the early stages. A sustained federal investment in these efforts is the only way to make significant progress in the fight against cancer. Only in this way can we reemphasize our commitment to millions of American families who face cancer every day. Further, these efforts support tens of thousands of stable jobs across the country.
VIEW CANDIDATE ANSWERS
Response provided by candidate
Yes
I am proud to represent Charlottesville, home of the UVA Cancer Center and one of two National Cancer Institute designated cancer centers in the entire commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia received over $86 million in grants and contracts from the National Cancer Institute in 2009, making a significant contribution not only to cancer research but also to local economic development and job growth. Each year, over 36,000 Virginians are diagnosed with cancer. I strongly support increased funding for cancer research so we can make a dramatic improvement in the health and quality of life of cancer patients.
ANSWER: ACS CAN
In recent years, we have made great progress in the war on cancer through investments in these areas. However, if we cut or slow down funding now, progress made in reducing cancer death rates and medical breakthroughs could come to a screeching halt. Cancer kills more than 560,000 Americans and costs the economy more than $228 billion every year. Fortunately, cancer death rates have been declining since 1999 and we now have approximately 11 million cancer survivors living in the U.S. Investing in research and prevention is the surest way to continue to reduce human suffering and the economic burden caused by cancer. Support from Congress is leading to the development of new tools for early detection and cancer fighting treatments that are still in the early stages. A sustained federal investment in these efforts is the only way to make significant progress in the fight against cancer. Only in this way can we reemphasize our commitment to millions of American families who face cancer every day. Further, these efforts support tens of thousands of stable jobs across the country.
HEALTH CARE
Do you support implementation of the recently enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in a way that will ensure that cancer patients and survivors have full access to adequate and affordable health care coverage?
ANSWER: Tom Perriello Democrat
Response provided by candidate
Yes
I proudly support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and will work to improve the law wherever possible. Cancer patients should not be denied health insurance simply because of their preexisting condition. Increased health insurance coverage and an emphasis on preventative care will increase early detection of cancer and increase survival rates.
ANSWER: ACS CAN
The new law, while not perfect, will meaningfully improve access to quality, affordable health care for millions of Americans who have or will face cancer. Improvements in access to quality, affordable care could help lower cancer incidence and mortality to a degree that has never been achieved in the battle against cancer. The legislation also intends to improve prevention and early detection of cancer. We know that 60% of all cancer deaths could be prevented if all Americans were to stop smoking, get screened for cancer, eat healthy and exercise regularly. These lifesaving improvements to our nation’s health care system will benefit millions of Americans.
VIEW CANDIDATE ANSWERS
Response provided by candidate
Yes
I proudly support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and will work to improve the law wherever possible. Cancer patients should not be denied health insurance simply because of their preexisting condition. Increased health insurance coverage and an emphasis on preventative care will increase early detection of cancer and increase survival rates.
ANSWER: ACS CAN
The new law, while not perfect, will meaningfully improve access to quality, affordable health care for millions of Americans who have or will face cancer. Improvements in access to quality, affordable care could help lower cancer incidence and mortality to a degree that has never been achieved in the battle against cancer. The legislation also intends to improve prevention and early detection of cancer. We know that 60% of all cancer deaths could be prevented if all Americans were to stop smoking, get screened for cancer, eat healthy and exercise regularly. These lifesaving improvements to our nation’s health care system will benefit millions of Americans.
TOBACCO CONTROL
Would you vote to increase the federal tobacco tax to help improve public health, save lives, and protect children from a lifetime of smoking and to use those tax revenues to pay for expanded smoking cessation services?
ANSWER: Tom Perriello Democrat
Response provided by candidate
I support common sense tobacco policies to ensure that individuals know all of the relevant health risks before deciding to start smoking. I voted for an expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which was paid for in part by an increase in the tobacco tax. Because of this expansion, 11 million children will receive health care.
ANSWER: ACS CAN
ACS CAN, along with the prestigious Institute of Medicine and the President’s Cancer Panel, strongly supports increasing tobacco taxes to reduce the number of people who begin smoking and to increase the number of smokers who quit. Every day, 3,500 kids try their first cigarette and 1,000 kids become regular smokers. ACS CAN supports substantially increasing the federal tobacco tax because every 10 percent increase in the cost of a pack reduces youth smoking by 7 percent and overall cigarette consumption by 4 percent. Eighty-seven percent of lung cancer deaths are caused by tobacco use and more than 400,000 Americans die from tobacco-related causes every year. We can prevent disease and death and save health care costs by increasing tobacco taxes both to fund cessation services in programs such as Medicaid and to expand access to quitline services, which currently reach only 1 percent of smokers.
VIEW CANDIDATE ANSWERS
Response provided by candidate
I support common sense tobacco policies to ensure that individuals know all of the relevant health risks before deciding to start smoking. I voted for an expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which was paid for in part by an increase in the tobacco tax. Because of this expansion, 11 million children will receive health care.
ANSWER: ACS CAN
ACS CAN, along with the prestigious Institute of Medicine and the President’s Cancer Panel, strongly supports increasing tobacco taxes to reduce the number of people who begin smoking and to increase the number of smokers who quit. Every day, 3,500 kids try their first cigarette and 1,000 kids become regular smokers. ACS CAN supports substantially increasing the federal tobacco tax because every 10 percent increase in the cost of a pack reduces youth smoking by 7 percent and overall cigarette consumption by 4 percent. Eighty-seven percent of lung cancer deaths are caused by tobacco use and more than 400,000 Americans die from tobacco-related causes every year. We can prevent disease and death and save health care costs by increasing tobacco taxes both to fund cessation services in programs such as Medicaid and to expand access to quitline services, which currently reach only 1 percent of smokers.
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