House Passes Dr. Miller-Meeks' Bipartisan Bill to Fight Breast Cancer in Young Women
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives has passed Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D.'s (IA-01) bipartisan EARLY Act Reauthorization with overwhelming bipartisan support, advancing a critical federal initiative focused on breast cancer education, early detection, and prevention for young women.
The legislation reauthorizes the Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act, originally signed into law in 2009, which supports public education campaigns and partnerships aimed at increasing awareness of breast cancer risks among young women, particularly those at higher risk due to family history or genetic factors. The bill also incorporates the SCREENS for Cancer Act, reauthorizing a grant program that helps ensure women have access to breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnostic, and treatment services.
"As a physician, I know early detection saves lives," said Dr. Miller-Meeks. "Breast cancer impacts far too many families across Iowa and our country, and ensuring women have access to education, awareness, and preventative care is critical. Cancer prevention and early detection should never be partisan issues. Today's vote sends a strong message that Congress can still come together to support commonsense, lifesaving health care initiatives that make a real difference for American families."
Background:
As a physician and member of Congress, Dr. Miller-Meeks has been a leading voice on cancer prevention, rural healthcare access, and expanding early screening initiatives.
Young women in the United States are increasingly being diagnosed with breast cancer. About 16% of all new breast cancer cases occur in women younger than 50, and breast cancer in young women is often diagnosed at a later stage, tends to be more aggressive, and can create devastating physical, emotional, and financial challenges for patients and families.
The bill is endorsed by the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation, American Cancer Society, and the American Medical Association. It now advances to the U.S. Senate.
“Our patients may not know it, but they have benefitted from the EARLY Act, which has played a critical role in breast cancer education and prevention. The AMA strongly supports maintaining its funding and for the CDC to continue supporting education, research, and other initiatives that raise awareness surrounding breast cancer in high-risk and younger demographics. We appreciate Rep. Miller-Meeks, MD, for shepherding this bill through committee and the House floor,” said American Medical Association President Willie Underwood, MD, MSc, MPH.
“Early detection remains one of the strongest tools we have to reduce the impact of breast cancer. With the recent passage of the EARLY Act, Congress just demonstrated an unwavering, bipartisan commitment to ensure access to lifesaving education and support for young women with or at risk of developing breast cancer,” said Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “ACS CAN applauds Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) for championing this effort and thanks the U.S. House of Representatives for advancing this bill, which also reauthorizes the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), an initiative that has been highly successful at improving cancer screening rates in underserved communities for decades. ACS CAN calls on both chambers to work together and get this important legislation across the finish line.”
To read the full bill text, click HERE.
###