[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 196 (Thursday, November 20, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H4825-H4826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 OBSERVING WORLD PANCREATIC CANCER DAY

  (Ms. Sewell of Alabama was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in observance of today, November 20, 
as World Pancreatic Cancer Day.
  It is a time to shine light on the devastating impact of this disease 
and dedicate ourselves to improving prevention, early detection, and 
treatment.
  Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths 
in the United States and is on track to becoming the second by 2030. 
Over 67,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with pancreatic cancer.
  Like so many Americans, I know all too well the terrible impact of 
this disease. In 2021, I lost my dear mother, Nancy Gardner Sewell, to 
pancreatic cancer.
  By the time we caught it, the cancer had already spread. She passed 
away just 8 weeks after her diagnosis. In an effort to turn my pain 
into purpose, I have committed myself to doing everything I can to 
prevent other families from enduring such a painful loss.
  Along with my friend Congressman Jodey Arrington, I am proud to be 
leading H.R. 842. In the 118th Congress, Congressman Arrington 
introduced our bill and surprised me by renaming it after my mother, 
the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection 
Screening Act.
  Our bill would create a pathway for Medicare to cover multiple cancer 
early detection tests. Medicare will cover that by making sure that 
once it is approved by the FDA, it immediately becomes available to 
Medicare patients. This is so important because the promise of 
screening for more than 40 cancers lies with a simple blood test.
  If passed, it will give our seniors their best shot at catching 
cancer early and treating it before it spreads. Just 2 months ago, our 
bill passed unanimously out of the House Ways and Means Committee. It 
enjoys overwhelmingly bipartisan support with 332 House cosponsors and 
67 Senate cosponsors.
  Later today, I look forward to convening lawmakers, researchers, 
advocates, and families for a roundtable on the latest developments in 
prevention, early detection, and treatment. I thank the Pancreatic 
Cancer Action Network, the American Cancer Society, and all of the more 
than 500 stakeholders for all of their efforts. I am so grateful for 
the tireless work of our cancer advocates. Without them, this bill 
would not enjoy such broad bipartisan support.
  As we wear purple today in honor of World Pancreatic Cancer Day, I 
ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 842, the Nancy Gardner 
Sewell Multi-Cancer Early Detection Act.
  Mr. Speaker, let's get this bill across the finish line and pave the 
way for the world without pancreatic cancer.


                       National Rural Health Day

  Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize today as National Rural 
Health Day.
  As the daughter of Alabama's rural Black Belt, I know firsthand the 
challenges that our rural communities face when it comes to accessing 
quality, affordable healthcare.
  For too many patients in rural America, getting seen by a doctor 
requires driving miles to the nearest hospital or health center. Broken 
payment systems and workforce challenges have put an enormous strain on 
our healthcare system.
  In Congress, I am proud to be leading legislation that will tackle 
these challenges. Our Graduate Medical Education bill will add 
thousands of residency slots, creating a pipeline of qualified health 
professionals to serve patients in rural America.
  Our Save America's Rural Hospitals Act takes important steps to 
ensure that rural hospitals are fairly reimbursed for their services. 
The Home Health Stabilization Act will allow more seniors to receive 
the care that they need in the comfort of their own homes.
  I am also working hard to expand access to telehealth services, 
mental health, and substance use programs, and support our rural 
ambulance providers. It is so important that our rural ambulance 
providers know the importance that they have in rural America.
  Mr. Speaker, when it comes to healthcare, our rural communities are 
on life support. Republicans' so-called big, beautiful bill makes the 
largest cut to healthcare in American history. Despite the dysfunction 
in Washington, we in Alabama are fortunate to have amazing partners 
standing in the gap.
  Just last month, I was thrilled to attend the groundbreaking of the 
Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences in Demopolis, Alabama. This new 
state-

[[Page H4826]]

supported residential high school is located in the heart of Alabama's 
Black Belt, where it will cultivate the next generation of healthcare 
professionals.
  I believe that access to quality, affordable healthcare should be a 
right for all Americans and not just for the few. As we observe 
National Rural Health Day, let us recommit ourselves to ensuring that 
every American, regardless of their ZIP Code, gets the care that they 
need and that they deserve.

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