A version of these comments, authored by NBCC President Fran Visco, originally appeared in the November 8, 2024 edition of The Cancer Letter.
Our work just got a lot more difficult.
As I write this, we do not know who will control the House, so it is not certain exactly how difficult. Regardless, certain things are clear.
We will have to work harder to protect the Affordable Care Act, including safeguarding essential protections for preexisting conditions.
We have to assume that whoever is in Congress will respond to compelling stories and it will be our job to make them understand what is at stake on a human level, pressing upon them the immense jeopardy for millions of their constituents.
We will also have to be vigilant in making certain that science-based policies and health care decisions are not undermined and that public health decisions are based on strong evidence. It will fall to us to educate Congress about what that means.
The cancer community will need to stand united and unwavering–keeping a daily eye on decisions coming from the administration. We will do everything we need to do to save lives. No matter what new obstacles this election has produced, we cannot change our agenda. We put years, and much thought and analysis, into determining what is needed to achieve our mission. We cannot settle for less.
Of course, our agenda will have to shift to defend important gains and expand to incorporate more state-based policymaking. Ultimately, we will probably have to figure out how to get all this done by working around the federal government.
And we will. We remain undeterred and committed and willing to work as hard as needed.
