Gregoire Receives National Award for Lifesaving Public Policy

For Immediate Release: Contact: Alicia DelVento 09/24/2020 Alicia.DelVento@mahouse.gov

Gregoire Receives National Award for Lifesaving Public Policy
Award is Highest Honor Presented by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

(BOSTON) – Representative Danielle W. Gregoire (D-Marlborough) received the National Distinguished Advocacy Award this month, in recognition of her significant contributions to the fight against cancer. Gregoire was joined by her colleague, Senator John Keenan (D- Quincy), as they were both recognized for their role as champions of first-in-the-nation legislation that prohibits the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol flavors, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars, in the Commonwealth. ACS CAN, the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, presents the annual award to select lawmakers who demonstrate outstanding leadership in the area of cancer-related public policy advocacy.

“Both Senator Keenan and Representative Gregoire exemplify what it means to be passionate advocates for public health,” said Lisa Lacasse, president of ACS CAN. “Their bicameral collaboration and commitment to advancing lifesaving legislation is a testament to their deep commitment to protecting youth and Black, Latino and LGBTQ communities that are disproportionately impacted by the burden of tobacco use. It’s thanks to their unwavering determination that future generations will be protected from a lifetime of tobacco addiction.”

In 2019, Representative Gregoire and Senator Keenan teamed up with public health advocates to file a bill that would ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products in the Commonwealth. After endlessly lobbying their colleagues, defeating countless amendments that would have weakened the legislation, the pair garnered overwhelming bipartisan support for the bill. Their efforts resulted in the passage of the first-in-the-nation legislation to prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products, anywhere in Massachusetts.

The award was presented on September 15th as part of the annual ACS CAN Leadership Summit and Lobby Day. Nearly 700 cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones met virtually with their elected officials to urge them to support policies that increase funding for cancer research and prevention programs and address barriers that prevent diverse populations from enrolling in clinical trials.

“It is an incredible honor to receive the National Distinguished Advocacy Award from ACS CAN,” said Representative Danielle W. Gregoire (D-Marlborough), House Chair of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. “Thanks to the hard work of our advocates, young people and healthcare professionals as well as the political courage of my colleagues, we were able to make clear that Massachusetts values the health and well-being of its vulnerable youth over the profits of Big Tobacco. It is my hope that other State Legislatures will soon follow our lead in banning these harmful products.”

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