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American Cancer Society Action Network: To reflect on successes and challenges in battle against cancer, Sen. Harkin is special guest at Iowa City reception
7/23/2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 23, 2010

CONTACT: Amy Johnson Boyle, 319-369-7771

Interviews Available Friday, July 23

[Iowa City]– The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network will celebrate its successes and embrace the challenges that lie ahead in the ongoing battle against cancer during a reception Saturday night in Iowa City. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the Appropriations Panel that funds health initiatives is ACS CAN’s special guest.

“We have made tremendous progress in our fight against cancer during the past several years through passage of the landmark Iowa Smokefree Air Act, increased access to the care cancer patients need, and funding for critical preventive services,” said Amy Johnson Boyle, ACS CAN advocate and Event Co-chair. “Senator Harkin is a tireless advocate for Iowa families battling cancer and we were honored to have the opportunity to thank him in person.”

More than 60 cancer advocates are joining Sen. Harkin, Johnson Boyle, and Event Co-chair Gary Streit in the home of Dr. and Mrs. George Weiner to consider how to capitalize on recent successes to keep progressing toward the ultimate goal of eliminating cancer.

“In Congress, we have made great strides to increase awareness on the importance of preventing cancer and other chronic diseases,” said Senator Harkin. “The health reform measure that just became law makes the largest investment in wellness activities like cancer screenings and a law enacted last year calls on FDA -- for the first time -- to regulate what tobacco companies put into their products. We have come a long way in the last year, but we recognize our work is far from over. And that is why the work of ACS CAN is so critical.”

“The reality is that cancer still devastates Iowa families,” said Johnson Boyle. “We must continue a strong focus on preventive screenings. We must continue to help Iowans quit smoking. We must continue pushing for strong and effective legislation to beat cancer for good.”

ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit http://www.acscan.org.

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