[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H4648-H4649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EARLY ACT REAUTHORIZATION OF 2025
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4541) to reauthorize the Young Women's Breast Health
Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act of 2009, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4541
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
TITLE I--EARLY ACT REAUTHORIZATION
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``EARLY Act Reauthorization
of 2025''.
SEC. 102. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE YOUNG WOMEN'S BREAST HEALTH
EDUCATION AND AWARENESS REQUIRES LEARNING YOUNG
ACT OF 2009.
Section 399NN(h) of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 280m(h)) is amended by striking ``2026'' and inserting
``2031''.
TITLE II--SCREENS FOR CANCER ACT
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Screening for Communities
to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services for Cancer Act
of 2025'' or the ``SCREENS for Cancer Act of 2025''.
SEC. 202. NATIONAL BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER EARLY DETECTION
PROGRAM.
(a) National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection
Program.--Title XV of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 300k et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 1501 (42 U.S.C. 300k)--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) in paragraph (2), by striking ``the provision of
appropriate follow-up services and support services such as
case management'' and inserting ``that appropriate follow-up
services are provided'';
(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking ``programs for the
detection and control'' and inserting ``programs for the
prevention, detection, and control'';
(iii) in paragraph (4), by striking ``the detection and
control'' and inserting ``the prevention, detection, and
control'';
(iv) in paragraph (5)--
(I) by striking ``monitor'' and inserting ``ensure''; and
(II) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon;
(v) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (9);
(vi) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
``(6) to enhance appropriate support activities to increase
breast and cervical cancer screenings, such as navigation of
health care services, implementation of evidence-based or
evidence-informed strategies to increase breast and cervical
cancer screening in health care settings, and facilitation of
access to health care settings;
``(7) to reduce disparities in breast and cervical cancer
incidence, morbidity, and mortality, including in populations
with higher than average rates;
``(8) to improve access to breast and cervical cancer
screening and diagnostic services and reduce related
barriers, including factors that relate to negative health
outcomes; and''; and
(vii) in paragraph (9), as so redesignated, by striking
``through (5)'' and inserting ``through (8)''; and
(B) by striking subsection (d);
(2) in section 1503 (42 U.S.C. 300m)--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``that, initially'' and
all that follows through the semicolon and inserting ``that
appropriate breast and cervical cancer screening and
diagnostic services are provided consistent with relevant
evidence-based recommendations; and'';
(ii) by striking paragraphs (2) and (4);
(iii) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); and
(iv) in paragraph (2), as so redesignated, by striking ``;
and'' and inserting a period; and
(B) by striking subsection (d);
(3) in section 1508(b) (42 U.S.C. 300n-4(b))--
(A) by striking ``1 year after the date of the enactment of
the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection
Program Reauthorization of 2007, and annually thereafter,''
and inserting ``2 years after the date of enactment of the
SCREENS for Cancer Act of 2025, and every 5 years
thereafter,'';
(B) by striking ``Labor and Human Resources'' and inserting
``Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions''; and
(C) by striking ``preceding fiscal year'' and inserting
``preceding 2 fiscal years in the case of the first report
after the date of enactment of the SCREENS for Cancer Act of
2025, and preceding 5 fiscal years for each report
thereafter,''; and
(4) in section 1510(a) (42 U.S.C. 300n-5(a))--
(A) by striking ``2011, and'' and inserting ``2011,''; and
(B) by inserting ``, and $235,500,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2030'' before the period at the end.
(b) GAO Study.--Not later than September 30, 2027, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall report to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the
Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House
of Representatives on the work of the National Breast and
Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, including--
(1) an estimate of the number of individuals eligible for
services provided under such program;
(2) a summary of trends in the number of individuals served
through such program; and
(3) an assessment of any factors that may be driving the
trends identified under paragraph (2), including any barriers
to accessing breast and cervical cancer screenings provided
by such program.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
General Leave
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the
legislation and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4541.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4541, led by my
colleagues Representatives Wasserman Schultz and Miller-Meeks.
This bill reauthorizes funding for the Young Women's Breast Health
Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act, which supports
critical education, outreach, and provider training efforts through
HHS, acting through the CDC to close the gaps between screening and
detection of breast cancer in women under the age of 45 and those at
high risk.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer and second leading
cause of cancer death among American women, claiming the lives of
roughly 42,000 women annually.
The EARLY Act has played a significant role in increasing breast
cancer awareness and prevention efforts, and we must vote today to
ensure future generations of women continue to benefit from these
efforts.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4541, the EARLY Act
Reauthorization of 2025.
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women, with
321,000 new cases and 42,000 projected deaths just this year alone.
While breast cancer is often thought of as affecting older women,
younger women are often diagnosed too late, where treatment options are
more limited and, frankly, outcomes are worse.
Approximately 16 percent of all new breast cancer cases occur in
women under the age of 50. The importance of early detection simply
cannot be overstated.
[[Page H4649]]
Women diagnosed at an early stage have survival rates exceeding 99
percent. However, that number can fall to 30 percent when breast cancer
is detected at later stages. Despite these realities, younger women
between the ages of 25 and 40 continue to face disproportionately high
rates of aggressive breast cancers.
The EARLY Act has helped drive national progress in breast cancer
awareness, education, and prevention. H.R. 4541 reauthorizes these
critical efforts.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1550
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick), my good friend and a member of the Ways
and Means Committee.
Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his work in
this regard.
I am proud to co-lead this critical legislation, Mr. Speaker, to
reauthorize the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning
Young, or EARLY Act, a proven lifesaving initiative that promotes early
detection and education for young and high-risk women.
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women, with over
300,000 new cases and 42,000 projected deaths in 2025.
I have seen the power of early detection up close, Mr. Speaker. Both
my mom and my sister are breast cancer survivors. This is a very, very
personal issue. It shows how early detection is the most effective tool
there is to improve outcomes.
Also included in this legislation is the SCREENS for Cancer Act,
which I am proud to co-lead. This legislation reauthorizes the National
Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, expanding services
to ensure more Americans, especially those who are low income or
underinsured, can receive early lifesaving care.
Mr. Speaker, passing H.R. 4541 is a critical step in ensuring that
more Americans have access to early detection services and education.
We can prevent needless suffering and needless loss of life.
I thank my co-chair of the House Cancer Caucus, Representative Debbie
Wasserman Schultz, for leading the EARLY Act, and Representative
Morelle for his work in leading the SCREENS for Cancer Act.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bipartisan
legislation.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague. I know he talked
about his mom and his sister, but as we all know, those of us who have
been here a little bit of time, his brother was our colleague and had
cancer as well. We miss him. May God bless his family.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), a fierce advocate and long-term
fighter for early breast cancer detection.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for
yielding.
To my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick), I was proud to
be elected in the same class as his late brother, Mike. He was a good
and decent man, someone who always reached across the aisle. I was
really fortunate to be able to serve with him and with the current
Congressman Fitzpatrick. I thank him for continuing the fight against
cancer with us.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in strong support of my bipartisan
bill, the Breast Health Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young
Act, or the EARLY Act Reauthorization of 2025.
First, I thank Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member Pallone for their
strong support of this legislation, because one in eight American
women, as you have heard, will get breast cancer, and 42,000 are
expected to lose their life from it this year.
The earlier it is caught, the better our chances are to survive and
beat it. When breast cancer is caught in its earliest stage, survival
rates shoot up to 99 percent.
Trust me. I know catching it early saved my life.
Almost 18 years ago, when I was just 41 years old, I heard those four
harrowing words: ``You have breast cancer.'' I can tell you, I remember
feeling like I was being crushed by an anvil.
Like many Ashkenazi Jewish women, I found out I carry the BRCA2 gene
mutation, making me far more likely to get breast cancer and ovarian
cancer during my lifetime, and far more likely for recurrence.
After 15 months and many surgeries and tons of support from family
and close friends, I was cancer-free. Finding it early saved my life,
and now we have generational awareness of this genetic risk in my
family.
Millions of young women need these same tools, so once I was cancer-
free, I passed the original EARLY Act, which became law in 2010. Since
it first became law, breast cancer cases have steadily risen by 1.4
percent annually for women under 50, twice the rate of older women, and
by as much as 3.5 percent in women between 20 and 29.
The law created three CDC programs that helped young and high-risk
women focus on breast cancer risks and address the reality of rising
breast cancer rates in young women.
The Bring Your Brave campaign amplifies stories to raise awareness in
young women 18 to 44 about unique risks, signs, and symptoms.
The Young Breast Cancer Survivors Program funds grants for nonprofits
that provide support services and resources to boost patient survival
and their quality of life.
It also ensures healthcare providers know the unique challenges that
breast cancer poses to young and high-risk women. Unfortunately, too
many young women and high-risk women are dismissed by healthcare
providers thinking, ``Oh, what you have is just a cyst,'' or, ``Young
women don't get breast cancer.''
The bottom line is reauthorizing the EARLY Act saves women's lives,
and I am proud to team up with Representatives Miller-Meeks, Castor,
Fitzpatrick, Dingell, and Harshbarger, and Senators Klobuchar and
Crapo, to make sure those resources are out there for all of us.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the
gentlewoman from Florida.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, early detection is our most
powerful tool to beat cancer. It can be the difference between life and
death, especially in combating breast cancer, especially for those with
inherited mutations and women at higher risk, like Black women, for
whom a deadlier form of breast cancer known as triple negative is more
likely.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, the
Senate to quickly pass it, and the President to make it law. Breast
cancer diagnoses are on the rise in younger women, and we must meet
this moment.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on
this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 4541, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________