News
Welcome to the 2017 Legislative Session Vermont lawmakers new and experienced!
Today marks the first day of the 2017 Legislative Session and there are a lot of changes afoot! Rep. Mitzi Johnson, D-Grand Isle, was sworn in as the 3rd female Speaker of the House in Vermont's history! And in the Senate, Sen. Tim Ashe, D-Chittenden, will take the helm as Senate President Pro Tem. Many committees will see brand new faces and new priorities will emerge with our new governor, Phil Scott, being inaugurated tomorrow. Former Senator David Zuckerman will be inaugurated as the new Lt. Governor on the same day. With all of this change afoot, ACS CAN will be sending this welcome note to new and experienced lawmakers:
Dear 2017 Lawmaker,
Congratulations on your election to the Vermont General Assembly!
As the 2017 Legislative Session gets underway, we know you and your constituents have many important legislative priorities. As the nation’s leading cancer advocacy organization, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) can be a valuable resource in helping you develop and implement cancer-prevention legislation to help protect the Vermonters you have been elected to serve.
We work on a critical public health issues in our state, including: tobacco prevention, access to care, cancer prevention and early detection, and healthy eating/active living. ACS CAN strives to connect volunteers with their lawmakers at every level across the country and here in Vermont to support passing laws and policies that reduce cancer diagnoses and deaths. You’ll be hearing more from us on our issues throughout the year and during the upcoming 2017 state legislative session.
Our current legislative priorities are:
- Adequately protecting state funding for Vermont’s Tobacco Control Program
- Increasing the age of sale for tobacco products to 21
- Improving nutritional standards for all restaurant menus marketed to Vermont kids
This year in Vermont, more than 4,500 people will hear the words “you have cancer” and will begin the battle against this disease. The good news is the five-year relative survival rate for all cancers has continued to improve. The success we have had in fighting the war on cancer is evident in estimated 14.5 million Americans who are cancer survivors today – many of whom are cancer free.
With that in mind, enclosed is ACS CAN’s 2016 “How Do You Measure Up?” report for Vermont, which ranks states on policies to combat cancer. This report is an informative resource not only to show how Vermont is doing in achieving critical cancer policies, but also as a blueprint, highlighting steps our state can take to save lives and reduce health care costs.
The report finds Vermont is making significant progress on key metrics in the fight against cancer through public policy including access to health care, oral chemotherapy fairness, smoke-free laws, and cigarette taxes. It is crucial that we maintain this positive momentum!
However, Vermont is falling behind on other metrics including funding for our state tobacco prevention and breast and cervical cancer early detection programs – meaning there is a lot more work we can be doing to reduce the number of people being diagnosed with and dying from cancer in Vermont. Please read the report for a full look at how Vermont measures up.
Some of the most critical cancer decisions are not made in the doctor’s office, but instead they are made in the Statehouse. Much of the success in fighting cancer is due to public policy. ACS CAN looks forward to working with you to advocate for policies, laws and regulations that will reduce the burden of cancer in Vermont and on your friends and neighbors living in your district.
Again, best wishes for a productive legislative session in 2017. Please do not hesitate to contact me to assist you in fighting cancer on behalf of your constituents and all Vermont citizens through your work at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Jill Sudhoff-Guerin
Vermont Government Relations Director
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
55 Day Lane
Williston, Vermont 05495
Phone: 802.917.5817