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.

Be the first from your state to butt-in to Congress!

Your calls to Congress really do make a difference, however no one from Delaware, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, South Dakota, or Wyoming called yesterday as part of the Congressional Butt-in.

But there’s good news! You still have time to call.

Dial 1-866-615-3375 and enter your zip code to be connected – at no cost – to your Representative’s office.

Representative Granger (R-TX) introduced H.R. 1189 and she appreciates all the work that colorectal cancer advocates are doing to help get Members to sign onto the bill.

“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 for their support of my bill.  Together we can get H.R. 1189 enacted into law.”

After you make your call, let us know how it went by filling out this simple form.

Help spread the word! Let your friends know it’s not too late. We need your help today to get H.R. 1189 enacted into law and provide all Americans with access to colorectal cancer screening and treatment services.  Take 3 minutes today to help save thousands of lives!

Don’t know what to say when you call? Click here for a detailed script.

Your calls to Congress really do make a difference!  Representative Granger wanted you to know that she appreciates all the work you did during the 2010 Congressional Butt-In to help get cosponsors for her bill…

“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.”

– Representative Kay Granger

Didn’t get a chance to call your Member today?  Not to worry, you can still call on Wednesday March 31.

Dial 1-866-615-3375 and enter your zip code to be connected – at no cost – to your Representative’s office.  Once you reach your Representative’s office, all you need to do is ask him/her to cosponsor H.R. 1189.

Hundreds of advocates from across the country took the time to Butt-In to Congress today and let Congress know it is time we passed legislation creating a national screening and treatment program for colorectal cancer.

Advocates contacted 155 Members of Congress who have not yet cosponsored H.R. 1189. This morning there were only 75 cosponsors on the bill. Thanks to the hard work of lots of advocates from all over the country we will soon see many more cosponsors on H.R. 1189.

Advocates from the following 38 states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, and WV took the time to Butt-In to Congress today.

We also logged calls from advocates in DC and from Puerto Rico!

And advocates in the following 6 states: KY, ME, ND, NJ, SC, and WV did an especially great job.  They recruited people to call every single Member of Congress from their state!!!

Didn’t get the chance to Butt-In to Congress today?  Don’t worry you can still call tomorrow.  Dial 1-866-615-3375 and enter your zip code to be connected – free of charge – to your Representative.  Then all you need to do is ask him/her to cosponsor H.R. 1189.

The special call-in number will be working through the close of business on Wednesday March 31.  So if you haven’t already, please take the time to Butt-In to Congress.

Health care reform won’t help increase awareness about the importance of early detection and screening. To really see an increase in screening rates and save lives we need a national colorectal cancer screening and treatment program enacted. Today, is your chance to help make that vision a reality.

Call 1-866-615-3375 and ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 1189.

Thanks to advocates like you, we have already called nearly 190 Members of Congress.

But, we need to reach more Members if we are going to get H.R. 1189 enacted into law this year.  So please take 5 minutes and call 1-866-615-3375 and ask your Member to cosponsor H.R. 1189.

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

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, over 300 advocates have taken a few minutes out of their day to call their Representatives.  We have reached 123 Members of Congress!

Did you call your Representative?  Take a minute, and let us know how the call went:

Together we will make the vision of a national screening and treatment program for colorectal cancer a reality.

C3’s Director of Development, Ben Basloe, just called his Representative and asked Congressman Van Hollen to cosponsor H.R. 1189.  The call only took 2 minutes.  Watch Ben make the call – it really is easy to do!

Will you take 2 minutes today and call your Representative?

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.

Josh and Kimberly Wimberly recently traveled from Alabama to Washington DC to participate in C3’s 4th Annual Call-on Congress.  They met with Representative Spencer Bachus’s health policy staff and asked for the Representative’s support of legislation that will help save thousands of lives and increase awareness regarding the importance of early detection and screening for colorectal cancer.

As a direct result of their efforts, Representative Bachus signed on to cosponsor the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act (H.R. 1189).

Is your Representative a cosponsor of this important legislation?  If not, today is your chance to call your Representative and let Congress hear your voice just like it heard the Wimberlys.  Call 1-866-615-3375 anytime from 9 AM to 5:30 PM EDT, and ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 1189.

Click here for a detailed script.

Just 12 days ago, advocates from across the country were on Capitol Hill for C3’s annual Call-on Congress.  They went to the hill and asked Members of Congress to support legislation that will create a national screening and treatment program for colorectal cancer (H.R. 1189).

ALABAMA ADVOCATES GET THEIR REP TO COSPONSOR H.R. 1189

Josh and Kimberly Wimberly traveled to DC from Alabama to share their story of survival and ask their Representative to support H.R. 1189.  The Wimberlys met with Representative Spencer Bachus’s health care staffer, and after hearing their story Representative Bachus signed onto cosponsor H.R. 1189.  Read more about the Wimberlys trip to DC.

FIRST-TIME CALL-ON CONGRESS ATTENDEE FROM KANSAS GETS HIS REP TO COSPONSOR H.R. 1189

Doug Sharp traveled to DC from Kansas in honor of his friend, Dr. Tom O’Sullivan, who died from colorectal cancer in June of 2007. Tom was a loving husband, father, and friend who was only 50 years old when this disease took his life.  Doug met with Representative Todd Tiahrt’s health care staff while he was in DC and told them about his good friend Tom and ask Representative Tiahrt to cosponsor H.R. 1189.

After meeting with Doug, Representative Tiahrt signed on to cosponsor H.R. 1189.

MINNESOTA ADVOCATES GET TWO NEW COSPONSORS ON H.R. 1189

Brenda Elsagher, Malia Frey, Carol Larson, Dave Larson, and Mandy Nelson traveled to DC from Minnesota to ask their Representatives to support H.R. 1189.  Eleven years ago Carol was diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer.  Brenda is a thirteen year colorectal cancer survivor.  Both Brenda and Carol  took the time to travel to DC so that they could share their stories of survival with their Representatives and ask the Minnesota Congressional delegation to support H.R. 1189.  Mandy took the time to travel to DC and lobby Congress in memory of her dear friend Christine Niemi who during her battle with colorectal cancer opened her heart to the blogosphere at coloncancersucksass.com where she still is a source of information, strength and hope to people all over the world.

Minnesota Representatives Keith Ellison and Erik Paulson signed on to cosponsor H.R. 1189 after meeting with the C3 advocates and survivors from Minnesota.

OREGON ADVOCATES GET THEIR REP TO COSPONSOR H.R. 1189

Nancy Roach, LaRisha Baker, Marsha Baker, Michell Baker, and Tom Foeller made the long trip from Oregon to DC to participate in C3’s Call-on Congress.  The C3 advocates from Oregon meet with Representative Earl Blumenauer’s health care staffer and talked to her about the importance of getting a national colorectal cancer screening and treatment program enacted.  LaRisha, Marsha, and Michell made the trip to DC in honor of their their father Irving “Steve” Darrel Baker who passed away from colorectal cancer in 2008.  After getting a colonoscopy in 2006, Tom was diagnosed with stage three rectal cancer.  He traveled to DC to share his story of survival with his Members of Congress.

After meeting with the C3 advocates from Oregon, Representative Earl Blumenauer signed on to cosponsor H.R. 1189.

TOMORROW IS YOUR CHANCE TO LET CONGRESS HEAR YOUR VOICE….

If you were not able to travel to DC to participate in the 2010 Call-on Congress, tomorrow is your chance to let Congress hear your voice.  Take five minutes on Tuesday March 30, and participate in the 2010 Congressional Butt-In.  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.

Congressman Dan Boren (D-OK) recently delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives highlighting the work advocates in raising awareness about the importance of early detection and screening,

During the month of March, colon cancer advocates across the country will organize and participate in a wide range of activities to raise awareness about this horrible disease.

Listen to Congressman Boren’s floor remarks, and join him in taking action this March.  Tomorrow, along with thousands of advocates from across the country, you can participate in the 2010 Congressional Butt-In.

All you have to do is take five minutes and call your Representative to ask them to support H.R. 1189, the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act.

H.R. 1189 will create a national screening and treatment program modeled after the very successful breast and cervical cancer screening program.  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 the national breast and cervical cancer screening program was enacted in the mid-80s, the screening rate for breast cancer was around 29%.  Today, that rate is close to 80%.  It is time we made the same headway in the fight against colorectal cancer and enacted a national screening and treatment program for colorectal cancer.

And, tomorrow is your chance to help us make that headway.  Call 1-866-615-3375 anytime from 9 AM to 5:30 PM EDT, and ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 1189.