Colorado

2017 State Legislative Priorities

Cancer remains as one of the most preventable and increasingly curable life-threatening diseases – but only if we take the steps necessary to prevent it outright, detect it early, and improve access to early screening and treatment. To this end, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network in Colorado is working on the following legislative priorities in support of our mission to end cancer as a major health problem.

Ensure Access to Quality Care Via Federal Health Care Reform

  • ACS CAN will work throughout 2017 in partnership with the governor’s office, the General Assembly, the insurance commissioner, Connect for Health Colorado - the state health benefit exchange, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Finance, and consumer health groups to ensure Coloradoans continued access to health care.

Fight Lung Cancer and Protect Tobacco Control

  • ACS CAN will once again be highly engaged in protection of the state Tobacco Education and Prevention Program against budget cuts relative to the funding level the program is currently at for the 2016-2017 fiscal year.
  • ACS CAN will educate legislators and the public regarding the need to pass and implement a comprehensive statewide tobacco retail licensing and inspection law, including e-cigarettes. Colorado currently has no comprehensive state or local tobacco retail licensing measure in place.
  • ACS CAN will advocate against the passage of indoor marijuana and vaping clubs, which lead to the diminishment of the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act of 2006.

Expand Cancer Prevention, Treatment, and Survivorship

  • ACS CAN will continue to educate the General Assembly about the benefits of palliative care and explore ways to improve access to palliative care for all Coloradans.
  • ACS CAN will educate legislators about the importance of considering a statewide indoor tanning law that prohibits everyone under 18 from utilizing commercial indoor tanning facilities.

For More Information, Contact: R.J. Ours, Colorado Government Relations Director, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Great West Division  Office 720.524.5445  Fax 303.758.7006 

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 acscan.org.

1.888.NOW.I.CAN •