Last week, I had the honor of representing Maine on Capitol Hill by traveling to Washington, D.C., with nearly 700 of my fellow American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteers from across the country to urge Congress to make cancer a national priority.

Together, we called on Congress to support lifesaving policies that help people prevent and better treat cancer. We asked legislators for their support in increasing federal funding for cancer research, backing legislation to improve patient quality of life and removing cost barriers to colorectal cancer screenings for seniors.

When I met with Maine’s Congressional delegation, I told them that cancer is nonpartisan, and that Congress should seize the opportunity to pass critical legislation that can help end cancer as we know it.

I also let our lawmakers know that Mainers and many others across the country rely on them to support legislation that will help reduce the cancer burden, potentially making cancer history. With nearly 1,700 people dying from cancer every day, we must take legislative action on these important issues.

As a cancer survivor, I know first hand the impact that making the fight against cancer a national priority has in improving the lives of everyone touched by this disease. I encourage you to join us, giving us a stronger and louder voice in the fight against cancer.

Jeff Bennett
Portland


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.