Advocacy Insider from Susan G. Komen Center for Public Policy

February 2020 Updates

2020 Speak Truth to Power Conference – Advocating to Achieve Health Equity

Komen will not achieve its Bold Goal without engaging the African-American community where the impact of breast cancer is the most devastating. African-American women are 40 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than their white counterparts. Through the Speak Truth to Power: Advocating to Achieve Health Equity Conference, Komen will convene community health leaders and advocates to learn about the role public policy and advocacy plays in reducing breast cancer disparities and the importance of engaging in these efforts.

The 2020 Komen Speak Truth to Power Conference and Advocacy Summit will be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott (1700 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202) beginning the evening of June 7, 2020. Following the Conference, attendees will participate in the Komen Advocacy Summit.

Click here to learn more and apply today.

Federal Policy & Advocacy Updates

Appropriations

Just before adjourning for the holidays in December, Congress approved the fiscal year (FY) 2020 spending package and it was signed by President Trump. The budget included an increase of $2.6 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), bringing its total budget to $41.7 billion. The NIH budget included $296 million increase for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for a total budget of $6.44 billion. The funding specifically included money for NCI to increase the number of research grants it funds in a year.

Within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) budget, the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) received level funding of $197 million. The bill also includes a new $50 million initiative to support a data modernization effort at the CDC and directs CDC to prioritize advancements in cancer registries, a priority of our coalition efforts as well.

Finally, the Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) at the Department of Defense (DOD) saw an increase of $20 million in the spending agreement.

We applaud Congress and thank members for the increase in funding dedicated to breast cancer research and expanding access to breast care!

It is now time to turn our attention to the next budget cycle (FY2021). With more than 270,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer estimated to be diagnosed in 2020, we don’t have time to lose. We are calling on our lawmakers to increase funding for life-saving programs through the NIH, CDC, and DOD.

Learn more about Komen’s appropriations requests and join us in taking action.

Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act Introduced in Senate

In 2019, we worked in partnership with Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) to introduce federal legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R.2428, to increase women’s access to diagnostic imaging by eliminating cost-sharing for medically-necessary diagnostic breast imaging (diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI). After a year of advocating for this critical legislation, we are excited to announce that Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) have introduced a companion bill for the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act in the U.S. Senate, S.3216.

“Early breast cancer detection saves lives,” said Blunt. “Screening is vital, but getting the diagnosis confirmed so patients can start treatment as soon as possible is just as important. By ensuring full coverage of cancer diagnostic tests, this bill eliminates a major hurdle to care, leading to lower treatment costs and better outcomes.”

Learn more on Komen’s website, and join us by taking action and contacting your senators!

State Policy & Advocacy Updates

New Jersey

Governor Murphy signed critical legislation into law on January 21^st that will help breast cancer patients and survivors in New Jersey afford their medications. A2431 requires insurance providers in the state to offer plans with lower cost-sharing for prescription drugs, providing patients with more affordable treatment options so they can focus on getting well instead of on out-of-pocket costs.

Thank you to our advocates that took action! Thanks to you, New Jersey women won’t have to make the choice between paying for their medications or paying for food.

General Public Policy & Advocacy Updates

We're Hiring!

We are searching for a Regional Manager, State Policy and Advocacy (Northeast Region). This position will serve as a subject matter expert, supporting and promoting Susan G. Komen’s public policy and advocacy initiatives related to breast cancer and public health policy in the Northeast Region. The Northeast Region includes Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.

Please feel free to share with partners, grantees, friends and others that might be interested in applying.