Little more than 10 weeks pass between a presidential election and the winner’s inauguration. In that time, a group of politically connected advisors called the transition team help the president set priorities, outline policy plans, and prepare budget timelines. It’s also the first chance non-governmental organizations have to make an impression on the incoming administration. 

A common method for educating a new administration about an organization’s cause — and sharing how the president can improve the situation for the American people — is through a document called a transition memo. 

In December, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance provided the incoming Trump administration with a transition memo detailing the devastating ways colorectal cancer affects Americans and how the president can improve research, patient care, and prevention. Points were made about the rise of young-onset CRC, disparities in research funding, and colorectal cancer’s deadly impact in rural communities and among veterans.

Among its proposals, the Alliance appealed for significant National Cancer Institute funding to focus on colorectal cancer research, including $100 million earmarked for research into young-onset CRC. The memo also appeals to expand biomarker testing, telehealth benefits, and women’s health, and it emphasizes the importance of zero-cost preventive services.

Since the inauguration, the Alliance has been engaged with the new administration, sharing the memo with key stakeholders and visiting Capitol Hill to encourage support. And with recent developments, the Alliance will continue advocating to protect our nation’s health and research infrastructure. As more political appointees fill their positions, the opportunity to engage on behalf of our community grows. 

You can read the full transition memo, which details how President Trump could help end colorectal cancer, here.