State Legislators Issue Call to Action to Reduce Disproportionate Diagnosis and Death Rates

(BLACK PR WIRE) INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) will host the 17th Annual installment of the Black America’s Dialogue on Health series October 1st at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis. This year’s event, “Combating Cancer in Our Communities,” will provide state legislators with a platform to address a major national health concern - the growing disparities in cancer diagnosis and death rates among African Americans.


Because statistics show that African Americans are less likely to be diagnosed with and more likely to die from cancer than any other racial or ethnic group, NBCSL has chosen to focus this year’s event entirely on the fight against cancer.

The conference will educate participants on the facts surrounding cancer including the disparities in diagnosis, the effect culture and community involvement can have on the disease and the legislative impact NBCSL members can make by helping to shape comprehensive state action plans.

“When President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordability Act into law on March 23, 2010, our nation took a momentous step toward lowering costs, guaranteeing more choices, and enhancing the quality of health care for all Americans. As we gather in Indianapolis, NBCSL is helping to implement this healthcare reform at the state level,” said Rep. Calvin Smyre (GA), NBCSL President. “It is now the task of the state legislators to effectively roll out healthcare reform and NBCSL has a tremendous role to play in ensuring that this legislation positively impacts our respective communities.“

Former CNN Headline News Correspondent Kat Carney will serve as the Keynote speaker. Additional speakers scheduled include Dr. Leonard Weather, Jr., President of the National Medical Association, Dr. Kathleen Spears, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer of The Cancer Support Community and Congressman Andr� Carson (D-Indiana).

The event will stream live from 8:30AM EST to 4:00PM EST on October 1st and online viewers will have the opportunity to participate by submitting questions for various speakers at http://dialogueonhealth.nbcsl.org/.

“Although cancer is a chronic disease, we have proven as a Nation that we can significantly reduce the effects of cancer through education and mobilization. It is now time for all Americans to focus their attention on the disproportionate effects the disease is having on African Americans,” continued Smyre. “As a result of this year’s event our members will be empowered to return to their districts and develop initiatives that will close the diagnosis gap and help reduce the number of cancer-related deaths in our community.”

For the past 17 years, the conference has been supported through a generous grant from Eli Lilly and Company.

About the National Black Caucus of State Legislators
The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) is a membership association representing 646 African American state legislators from 42 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. NBCSL members represent more than 50 million Americans of all racial backgrounds. NBCSL tracks legislation at all levels of government and actively monitors state and federal policy initiatives to provide its members with important information. Each year, NBCSL members pass policy resolutions that directly impact federal and state policy. The organization focuses on U.S. domestic policy and is committed to policies that positively affect all Americans. Learn more at www.nbcsl.org.