ACS CAN Calls On Governor Murphy to Protect Cancer Related Programs in FY 19 Budget

TRENTON, NJ – June 21, 2018 – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) Managing Director of Government Relations Bill Sherman has released the following statement following the passage of a new budget by the New Jersey State legislature:

“As Governor Murphy reviews his potential actions on this budget, on behalf of our volunteers statewide I am calling on him to support expenditures to protect and save lives. This includes $2 million in funding for the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research (NJCCR). This program supports research in our state that has provided significant advances in the fight against cancer and in saving lives and protecting health. If this funding is eliminated, it puts at risk current cancer research as well as our ability to keep some of our country’s top clinicians in our state.

“We are also calling on Governor Murphy to protect $7 million from the one percent cigarette tax dedication for tobacco control programs to prevent kids from becoming addicted and to help adults who smoke quit.

“It is projected that in 2018 more than 53,000 New Jerseyans will hear the message that they have cancer. More than 16,000 of our state’s residents will lose their lives to cancer this year. We know that we can and must do better. These expenditures and other cancer related spending in the budget will save lives.

While on the campaign trail Governor Murphy said:

‘I intend to follow the law dedicating one percent of tobacco tax revenue to a comprehensive tobacco control program.’

‘I support increasing funding for basic research and development, and will work to ensure that it is targeted in ways that are best for New Jersey.’

‘I am supportive of making palliative care available to all patients who feel that it is suited for them, and will seriously consider all ideas that promote this type of comprehensive treatment.’

“We are counting on Governor Murphy to stand by his word and fund these life-saving initiatives by signing a budget that includes these cancer related programs.”

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 www.acscan.org.

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