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Public Policy and Advocacy Center

2010 is the Year to TAKE ACTION!

With a new year comes new opportunities and ZERO is making changes to help you to be an active advocate for prostate cancer. Check out the new tools for info about your lawmakers, contacting them and tracking important legislation in your State Capital as well as in Washington. And stay on top of current news from Washington by reading Kevin's Capitol Beat.

Click here to visit the Action Center

• The Capitol Beat
  by Kevin Johnson, ZERO's SVP of Public Policy | 01.13.2010
• December 2009 Legislative Update
  by Kevin Johnson, ZERO's SVP of Public Policy | 12.10.2009
• October Update on Capitol Hill Activities
  by Kevin Johnson, ZERO's SVP of Public Policy | 11.03.2009
• September Update on Capitol Hill Activities
  by Kevin Johnson, ZERO's SVP of Public Policy | 09.11.2009

Update on Capitol Hill Activities
 

vv = voice vote; ux = unanimous consent; rc = roll call vote

• For a status of ALL FY2010 Appropriations bills, click here.
• Prostate Cancer Research Funding Fact Sheet.
• PCRP Perspectives- September 2009

Let Congress Know Your Concerns

We encourage you to contact your elected representatives on Capitol Hill to indicate your support for early detection, men's prostate health and the need for research funding to improve early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

• Click here to act now and write your elected officials.

For more information about your Senators and Representative, CLICK HERE.

2009 'Summit to End Prostate Cancer' Brings Nearly 100 Advocates to Capitol Hill

The 2009 Summit to End Prostate Cancer, sponsored by ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer on Sept. 23-24, brought the largest gathering of prostate cancer advocates ever to meet on Capitol Hill.

Congressman Jim Marshall (D-GA) spoke about the Thomas J. Manton Early Detection and Treatment Act, a proposal he plans to introduce that will provide early detection and treatment of prostate cancer for under-insured and uninsured men.

The Congressman also stressed the need for health care reform legislation in order to curb rising medical costs that, if left unchecked, would imperil the nation's economy over the next two decades.

The two-day Summit was packed with more than 100 meetings as attendees visited their elected officials on Capitol Hill. The summit also focused on developing effective prostate cancer grassroots networks in local communities to build greater awareness and support across the U.S.

This year marked ZERO's 10th anniversary of bringing advocates together from across the U.S. to discuss key issues facing the prostate cancer community. It's the only Summit annually held on Capitol Hill that specifically focuses on prostate cancer.

"The Summit to End Prostate Cancer represents an annual opportunity during September, known as 'Prostate Cancer Awareness Month,' for supporters nationwide to gather in Washington, D.C. to speak up about prostate cancer and raise awareness of the importance of federal funding and other issues to help us achieve our goal of zero prostate cancer," said ZERO's CEO Skip Lockwood.

• The Summit to End Prostate Cancer
• Support this year's Summit to End Prostate Cancer

Want to Get Involved?

Members of Congress frequently hold town hall meetings as a way to converse with their constituents. Town Hall meetings are a perfect opportunity to share your concerns regarding prostate cancer. Some current legislative hot topics are:

• Access to prostate cancer testing as a part of Healthcare Reform
• Increasing the federal investment in prostate cancer research
• Addressing the African American prostate cancer disparity
• Support of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
• Establishment of an Office of Men's Health

Contact Us

We need the voice of advocates like you to help us make a difference. Contact Kevin Johnson or Marie Blessinger on ZERO's public policy team with any questions or comments, or to learn how you can get your message to the decision-makers on Capitol Hill.

About the Public Policy Team

ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer is your voice on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and in State Houses across America.

By educating lawmakers, training advocates and working with organizations across America, ZERO has led the fight to increase the federal investment in prostate cancer research from $85.5 million in 1995 to more than $441 million in 2007.