To the editor: 

In 2017, Rhode Island lawmakers will once again receive the opportunity to promote the health of Rhode Island children by supporting legislation which will enforce the advertising and marketing of only healthy foods and beverages on school property. 

Opportunities will also arise for the creation and revision of ordinances which will corroborate satisfactory healthcare for those touched by cancer.  

Owing to the leadership of the general assembly, Rhode Island was one of the first states to adopt school nutrition standards and has acted as a national leader in this area. However, one loophole remains: the advertising and marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages which contain large quantities of calories, fat, sugar and sodium. 

The premise of this legislation is very simple — if a substance cannot be sold in schools because it does not meet federal and state nutrition standards, then it should not be advertised or marketed there.  

By supporting this legislation, lawmakers hold the chance to highlight the benefits of healthy sustenance through advertising and can limit students’ exposure to unhealthy foods within schools.

As Congress also considers the future of the Affordable Care Act, it is critical that cancer patients, survivors, and those at risk of the disease do not face any gap in coverage of prevention and treatment.

American Cancer Society research has shown that the uninsured and underinsured are more likely than those with insurance to be diagnosed with cancer at its more advanced stages, when treatment is more expensive and patients are more likely to die due to the disease.

More than 20 million people, including many cancer patients and survivors, now own insurance by dint of the current law. Any replacement plan should stabilize and hopefully increase the number of insured Americans.

As a cancer research and funding advocate, I wish to remind Sen. Coyne and Rep. Hearn that Rhode Islanders are depending upon them to take a stand by supporting what works to prevent cancer. 

One such course of action is entrenching the prohibition of unhealthy food and beverage advertising in 100 percent of Rhode Island school buildings, on school grounds and buses, and in school publications. Another is ensuring continuous access to meaningful health insurance for men and women affected by cancer. Congressman Cicilline, thank you for taking cancer patients, survivors and their families into account whilst you consider proposals to repeal and replace the current health care law. In the coming days and weeks, I hope you all will urge your colleagues in Congress to do the same.  

Anticipating commendatory change,

Venus Tian

Barrington

Venus is a volunteer with American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.