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.

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.

Take a look at this short video message from last week’s Call-on Congress attendees about why they need you to take action on Tuesday on behalf of every person impacted by colorectal cancer.

Join the C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition, the Prevent Cancer Foundation, and thousands of advocates from across the country for the 2010 Congressional Butt-in on Tuesday, March 30.

*** *** ***

What: 2010 Congressional Butt-In

When: Tuesday, March 30, 2010

How: Call 1-866-615-3375 anytime from 9 AM to 5:30 PM EDT

You only have to make one call. You will be prompted to enter your zip code, and be directly connected to your Representative.  Urge them to support the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act (H.R. 1189).  Your call will take five minutes and could help save thousands of lives.

*** *** ***

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

*** *** ***

Senate Finance Committee Chair, Max Baucus (D-MT), has proposed a health care overhaul plan that would allow U.S. residents ages 55 to 64 to buy into the Medicare system. The provision calls for a higher monthly premium for beneficiaries younger than age 65, but would offer the same benefits. Baucus said the buy-in option would remain available until the government develops a more comprehensive plan to address health care reform.

Senator Baucus’ health care plan, which many view as the starting point for comprehensive health care reform, has called for lawmakers to make the Medicare buy-in immediately available.

There is a thought that expanding the current system could help cut down on government spending by preventing more costly conditions in the future. “Opening Medicare to Americans in their late 50s or early 60s would help prevent serious health conditions from deteriorating and resulting in higher costs to Medicare once those people turn 65,” said Stuart Guterman, a policy analyst at the Commonwealth Fund. (McClatchy/Charleston Gazette).

Currently, colorectal cancer screenings are covered under Medicare (65+), but the approved guidelines state that regular screenings should begin at 50. That’s a 15 year gap! Studies have shown that the savings to Medicare from catching the disease early, instead of treating a late stage patient, would be in the billions of dollars.

Get into the spirit of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month by purchasing a Cover Your Butt t-shirt or baseball jersey.

The baseball jerseys (pictured here) are $20 and the gray, short-sleeved tees (pictured at left and here) are $15.  Both shirts are sized small to XXL.

Visit the C3 store to get geared up.

C3 will once again be holding a one-day phone blitz to Congress on March 31st, 2009.

On this single day, we ask folks to call a special toll-free number (866-615-3375) that will allow callers to be directly connected to their members of Congress. Last year, nearly 2,000 people from all over the country participated – and it made a real difference in the level of support that the colorectal cancer screening bills that were sitting in Congress received.

Help us spread the word and get folks excited about doing something that can truly make a difference in the fight against colorectal cancer.

There are 5 easy ways you can help:

1. If you’re on Facebook, go to the C3 Congressional Butt-In event page and RSVP that you will attend. By doing this, it will show up in your Facebook “News Feed” which will help spread the word about the event. You can also invite your other Facebook friends to RSVP.
2. From your cell phone, text “BUTTIN” to 30644 to get a text reminder on March 31st to call into the Butt-In. Urge others to do the same.
3. When C3 begins sending out emails in the coming weeks about the Butt-In, forward them to everyone in your address book. If you’re not already on C3’s email list, register here.
4. On March 31st, make sure every person in your family and social circle joins in the Congressional Butt-In. It will take them 5 minutes to participate, but could make a huge difference in the fight.
5. Copy and paste the following information into your email signature:

   Join the C3 Congressional Butt-In on Tuesday March 31, 2009.
   
   Call 866-615-3375 and be directly connected to Congress!
   
   Text BUTTIN to 30644 now and and C3 will message you on March 31
   
   when it's time to place your call to Congress.

With your help, word will spread quickly that legislation in Congress could make a difference.

We appreciate your help.