2010 Congressional Butt-In Generates Calls to Congress Supporting Colorectal Cancer Screening From All 50 States the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico

On March 30-31, 2010 advocates from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico called their Representatives in Congress, urging them to support the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act (H.R. 1189) during the annual Congressional Butt-In.

The Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act (H.R. 1189) will establish a program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide colorectal cancer screenings and treatment for low-income, uninsured and underinsured individuals who are not eligible for Medicare.

Representative Kay Granger (R-TX) and sponsor of H.R. 1189, released the following statement:

“Like advocates across the country, finding ways to effectively fight colorectal cancer is a very personal issue for me.  I look forward to the day when we have a national colorectal cancer screening and treatment program in place.  Such a program will save thousands of lives and save billions of taxpayer dollars in reduced Medicare expenditures.  I thank the C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition, the Prevent Cancer Foundation, and the advocates from across the country who took the time to call Congress today for their support of my bill.  Together we can get H.R. 1189 enacted into law.”

Carlea Bauman, President of the C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition, released the following statement:

“Today colorectal cancer advocates from across the country spoke up and urged their Representatives to support legislation that will strike a blow against this disease that kills 50,000 Americans each year. I applaud them for their passion and commitment. I am also grateful for the partnership of the Prevent Cancer Foundation on this effort.  Together we will see the vision of a national screening and treatment program for colorectal cancer become a reality.”

Lisa Hughes, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Prevent Cancer Foundation, released the following statement:

“Constituent voices have a major impact on Members of Congress and their policy priorities.  The overwhelming show of support for H.R. 1189 demonstrates a clear need for a Federally-supported screening program for colorectal cancer, and we are hopeful that Congress will act to pass this legislation.  We extend our thanks to those that took the time to call today, and to our partners in this effort, C3: the Colorectal Cancer Coalition.”

While the recently enacted health care reform legislation will lower the cost of preventive services like colonoscopies for many Americans, the health care reform legislation will not do anything to increase awareness about the importance of early detection and screening. Today, even among those with health insurance, screening rates for colorectal cancer are much too low – less than half of those who should be screened get screened.

When colorectal cancer is detected early and treated, the five-year survival rate is 90 percent. However, less than 50 percent of U.S. adults aged 50 and older have been screened according to recommended guidelines. Due to low screening rates, less than 40 percent of colorectal cancers are found early. Education and outreach included in HR1189 are crucial to improving these rates.

Hundreds of advocates from across the country are calling Congress today and asking Members to cosponsor life-saving legislation that will create a national screening and treatment program for colorectal cancer. Learn more about what H.R. 1189 will do.

Already today, we have reached over 160 Members of Congress!  Did you call your Representative? Take a minute, and let us know how the call went in the form below.

And be sure to tell your friends, family, and colleagues to call 1-866-615-3375 and ask their Representative to cosponsor H.R. 1189.  Together we will make the vision of a national screening and treatment program for colorectal cancer a reality.

Suzanne Lindley is living with stage IV colon cancer and recently traveled to DC to participate in the 2010 Call-on Congress in order to:

“Share my voice and experience for a disease that is preventable, treatable, and beatable. Advocates from across the country joined together wearing Cover Your Butt t-shirts and descended upon Capitol Hill to encourage legislators to support three legislative proposals that will help us win the fight against colorectal cancer.”

Read more about Suzanne’s Call-on Congress experience in Cure Magazine.

When Suzanne met with her Members of Congress, she asked them to cosponsor legislation that will create a national screening and treatment for colorectal cancer similar to what we currently have in place for breast and cervical cancer.

Is your Representative a cosponsor of this important legislation?  If not, today is your chance to call your Representative and get them to cosponsor H.R. 1189.  Call 1-866-615-3375 anytime from 9 AM to 5:30 PM EDT, and ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 1189.

Don’t know what to say when you call?  We have a detailed script that you can use.

Verna Cox is 60 year old two-time stage III colon cancer survivor from Philadelphia, PA.  This March, for the third year in a row, Verna celebrated Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month by attending C3′s Call-on Congress.

Verna traveled to DC to participate in the 2010 Call-on Congress because:

“I’m back attending because we still haven’t reached our goal of having a colorectal Cancer prevention, early detection and treatment act passed into law.

Read more about Verna’s story in the City Suburban News.

Take five minutes today and help Verna reach her goal of seeing a national colorectal cancer screening and treatment program enacted into law.  Call 1-866-615-3375 anytime from 9 AM to 5:30 PM EDT, and ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 1189.

Don’t know what to say when you call?  We have a detailed script that you can use.

Rochelle Joseph is a 10-year, stage III colon cancer survivor from Upper Marlboro, Maryland by way of Dallas, Texas.  She was diagnosed in 1999 just after completing graduate school at the age of 26. After six weeks of radiation and chemo, Rochelle underwent a colectomy to remove her tumor and proceeded with seven months of adjuvent therapy.

Rochelle took time off from work to participate in the 2010 Call-on Congress because:

“I believe that awareness, education, and early screening and detection are paramount with a preventable disease like colon cancer.”

Read more about Rochelle’s story at Fredricksburg.com.

When Rochelle met with her Members of Congress, she asked them to cosponsor legislation that will create a national screening and treatment for colorectal cancer similar to what we currently have in place for breast and cervical cancer.

Is your Representative a cosponsor of this life-saving legislation?  If not, today is your chance to call your Representative and ask him/her to cosponsor H.R. 1189.  Call 1-866-615-3375 anytime from 9 AM to 5:30 PM EDT, and ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 1189.

Don’t know what to say when you call?  We have a detailed script that you can use.

Join thousands of advocates from across the country and take five minutes to call Congress and ask your Representative to support H.R. 1189.

Don’t know what to say when you call?  Download a detailed script.

H.R. 1189 will create a national treatment and screening program for colorectal cancer – a program that remains important even in the wake of health care reform.  While the recently enacted health care reform legislation will lower the cost of preventive services like colonoscopies for many Americans, the health care reform legislation will not do anything to increase awareness about the importance of early detection and screening.  To do that, we need H.R. 1189 enacted.

Today is your chance to help us win the fight against colorectal cancer and make the vision of a national colorectal cancer screening and treatment program a reality.  Take five minutes to call Congress and ask your Representative to support H.R. 1189.

For more details, and updates go to www.coveryourbutt.org.