14 Feb 2014

Protect Iowa's Children from Deadly Radon

By Cassandra Furlong

Radon. The EPA estimates it's the second leading cause of lung cancer in Iowa.

We need to make sure that schools are being tested for this deadly gas and we have good news on that front.

A bill requiring radon testing in schools has passed out of subcommittee and is making its way through the legislative process.

On Monday, your representative will hear this bill and it's important that they hear from you today.

We know that Iowa's children deserve a safe and healthy place to get an education and that's why we need you to contact your representative and ask them to support this bill.

14 Mar 2013

Lifesaving radon bill needs your help!

By Cassandra Furlong

400 people die in Iowa every year from radon induced lung cancer, but lifesaving radon legislation is in danger of not passing the Iowa Senate.

We urgently need your help to save this bill.

Everyday kids go to school and breathe in this deadly gas. This bill would require testing in schools and help with the cost of mitigation so that our kids can learn in a healthy environment. It also adds radon requirements to new construction and creates an educational awareness fund to help Iowans learn more about the dangers of radon.

The entire state of Iowa is in an EPA Hazard Zone 1 for the highest potential threat of radon.

Will you contact your senator and tell them they need to put the heath of Iowans, especially our children, first?

We need your help today.

21 Jan 2013

The 2013 Legislative session kicked off this week and we started with a bang.

By Cassandra Furlong

Monday began with a press conference with Rep. Bruce Braley at the Capitol where he rolled out his End Radon in Schools Act. This bill would require testing for radon in our schools and provide funding for mitigation.

Wednesday, 60 lawmakers and 18 volunteers attended our annual Legislative Breakfast at the Capitol.  They had some great discussions around our priorities of prevention, early detection and access to care. I want to thank everyone who helped make it a huge success!

But the good news doesn't stop there! One of our top priority bills, radon, was introduced in the Senate on Wednesday.  Next, it heads to the Senate State Government Committee. We need your help to make sure this important piece of legislation makes it to the Senate floor for debate, so be looking for a call to action soon.

If you are interested in attending any legislative forums or meetings in your area, please let us know.  We know that with your help, we can make huge strides in the fight against cancer in Iowa this session.

18 Sep 2012

Hawk Fans, Don't Miss This!

By Cassandra Furlong

"Let's Talk Hawkeyes!"

An Event to Benefit

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)

With Special Guest:

Iowa basketball Color Analyst, NBA champion Bobby Hansen

and

University of Iowa Play-by-play Announcer Gary Dolphin

Cocktail Reception

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Cedar Rapids Country Club

5:00 - 7:00 pm

The nation's leading cancer advocacy organization, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), is pleased to welcome long time University of Iowa football and basketball play-by-play announcer Gary Dolphin, and Iowa basketball color analyst and NBA champion Bobby Hansen, to a reception at the Cedar Rapids Country Club.  Hear all about the upcoming season from the insiders!

Individual Tickets are $100 and can be purchased here

If you are interested in being an event sponsor, please contact Cassandra Furlong at 515-727-0057 or cassie.furlong@cancer.org for more information.

Contributions or gifts to American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network are not tax deductible as charitable contributions.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy partner of the American Cancer Society.  ACS CAN supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem, including continued funding of cancer research. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top priority by giving ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard.

24 Aug 2012

Healthy From the Ground Up

By Cassandra Furlong

Do you know what is the second leading cause of lung cancer?  I didn't, until I started to learn about Radon.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking and almost 400 Iowans a year die from radon induced lung cancer. What's more is that seven out of 10 Iowa homes have dangerous radon levels. Radon is a gas that occurs naturally in the soil underground that can get in to buildings.  You may be breathing this in every day without even knowing it.

It's also in our children's schools. Iowa is ground zero for this deadly, odorless, invisible gas, yet we have almost no radon prevention and mitigation (safely venting the radon out of a building) legislation at all.

Over the next few weeks, you'll hear from a radon cancer survivor, learn about radon in schools, and find out how you can help us get important, lifesaving radon legislation passed.

For now, I encourage you to learn more about radon in Iowa.

07 Aug 2012

The Right Choice For Iowans?

By Cassandra Furlong

If you were offered more health coverage for less money, would you take it?

That's the question before Iowa policymakers right now. They have the choice to expand the Medicaid program starting in 2014, extending health coverage to nearly 200,000 more Iowans - or they can refuse.

If they do expand coverage to some of our state's most vulnerable citizens, they could save the state $72 million over the next eight years.  What's more - the federal government has even agreed to pay 100 percent of the costs to expand the program for the first two years, and no less than 90 percent after that!

Yet Governor Terry Branstad has said he'd rather not.

Tell Gov. Branstad and legislative leaders (Sen. Gronstal, Rep. Paulsen, Rep. Upmeyer) you want the Medicaid expansion to help more hard-working, low-income Iowans gain access to care - including potentially life-saving cancer prevention and early detection screenings.

Expanding the program is a win-win for the state - saving lives and dollars.

Take action today to let policymakers know this is a common-sense solution and a step in the right direction in the fight against cancer.

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Amy Alkon Advice Goddess, Real Astrology, Red Meat cartoon and RCR Crossword every week?) 

* indicates required

View previous campaigns.

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.