Why it matters

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACSCAN) is a major voice on Capitol Hill for cancer patients and research funding despite a 23% decrease from Q4 2024 spending.

By the numbers

  • $1.98 million: ACSCAN’s Q1 2025 in-house lobbying expenditure;
  • 5 firms: External lobbying firms retained by ACSCAN, including Tarplin, Downs & Young LLC, Cornerstone Government Affairs, and three others, and
  • 10+: Major policy areas targeted, from healthcare access to research funding

Driving the agenda

ACSCAN is pushing for action across the entire cancer care continuum:

  • Access to Care: Fighting to protect Medicaid from cuts in the FY25 Budget, monitoring implementation of Medicare drug price negotiations in the Inflation Reduction Act, and advocating for legislation like the Help CoPays Act to reduce patient costs;

  • Health Disparities: Supporting the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Early Detection Screening Coverage Act to improve access to new cancer screenings and the SCREENS for Cancer Act to reauthorize coverage for breast and cervical cancer screening programs;

  • Childhood Cancer: Seeking $30 million for the Childhood Cancer STAR Act and $50 million for the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative, while supporting bills to improve insurance coverage for children needing specialized care, and

  • Research & Prevention: Lobbying for increased funding for NIH, NCI, ARPA-H, and CDC cancer programs, while also pushing for tobacco regulation and asbestos bans.

    • Behind the scenes

    ACSCAN’s lobbying team includes:

    • Elizabeth W. Darnall: Recently added to the team, Darnall previously served as Senior Health Advisor for the Senate HELP Committee and worked for Democrats Rep. Edward Markey and Senator Ben Nelson;

    • James MacDonald Williams Jr.: Experienced lobbyist who joined ACSCAN in 2022 after serving as Legislative Director for Rep. Steven King;

    • Julie Little Nickson: Former Chief of Staff to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, bringing congressional operations expertise since joining in 2022,

    • Nishith K. Pandya: Joined in 2023 with experience from the House Energy and Commerce Committee and other congressional staff roles.

    The big picture

    ACSCAN’s approach targets preventative measures and treatment access. This positions it as a counterweight to industry groups that have competing priorities on issues like drug pricing and insurance coverage requirements.

    The organization leverages both its moral authority as a patient advocate and its sophisticated lobbying operation to influence health policy at the federal level, focusing on expanding access to screening, treatment, and support services.

    What to watch

    • Whether the 23% decrease in Q1 spending signals a longer-term reduction in lobbying investment or a temporary fluctuation;

    • How ACSCAN’s new Senate-experienced lobbyist might shift their strategy on healthcare legislation, and

    • Their success in securing appropriations for cancer programs in an increasingly constrained federal budget environment.