WOMEN AND LUNG CANCER RESEARCH AND PREVENTIVE SERVICES ACT OF 2025

On 2026-04-21, Representative Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1) delivered a floor speech titled "WOMEN AND LUNG CANCER RESEARCH AND PREVENTIVE SERVICES ACT OF 2025" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered the environment, trade policy. It referenced legislation: HR2319.

WOMEN AND LUNG CANCER RESEARCH AND PREVENTIVE SERVICES ACT OF 2025

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 70 (Tuesday, April 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 21, 2026)] [House] [Pages H3020-H3021] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] WOMEN AND LUNG CANCER RESEARCH AND PREVENTIVE SERVICES ACT OF 2025 Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2319) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a review to evaluate the status of research on lung cancer in women and underserved populations, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 2319 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY REVIEW TO EVALUATE AND IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ACCELERATION OF RESEARCH ON LUNG CANCER IN WOMEN AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, GREATER ACCESS TO PREVENTIVE SERVICES, AND STRATEGIC PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS. (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall conduct an interagency review to evaluate the status of, and identify opportunities for the acceleration of research related to-- (1) research on lung cancer in women; (2) research on lung cancer in underserved populations that meet the eligibility criteria for lung cancer screening as recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force; (3) access to lung cancer preventive services; and (4) strategic public awareness and education campaigns on lung cancer. (b) Content.--The review and recommendations under subsection (a) shall include-- (1) a review and comprehensive report on the outcomes of previous research, the status of existing research activities, and knowledge gaps related to lung cancer in women and underserved populations in all agencies of the Federal Government; (2) opportunities for collaborative, interagency, multidisciplinary, and innovative research, that would-- (A) encourage innovative approaches to eliminate knowledge gaps in research on lung cancer in women; (B) evaluate environmental and genomic factors that may be related to the etiology of lung cancer in women; and (C) foster advances in imaging technology and techniques to improve risk assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and the simultaneous utilization of other preventive services and activities; (3) opportunities regarding the development of a national lung cancer screening strategy to expand access to such screenings, particularly among women and underserved populations; and (4) opportunities regarding the development of a national public education and awareness campaign on-- (A) lung cancer in women and underserved populations; and (B) the importance of early detection of lung cancer. (c) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report on the review conducted under subsection (a). The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Harshbarger) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Tennessee. General Leave Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on this bill. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Tennessee? There was no objection. Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2319, the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2025 led by my colleague Representative Brendan F. Boyle. Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States, and it claims the lives of more Americans than any other type of cancer. Globally, over 600,000 women die every year from lung cancer, and we know that nearly 20 percent of lung cancers occur in individuals who have either never smoked or smoked less than 100 cigarettes over their lifetime. These findings demonstrate that we need to be doing more to understand the risk factors beyond just smoking cigarettes and improve both our strategies and tools for screening, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, especially among women who face unique risk factors. H.R. 2319 would allow us to strengthen and advance emerging research opportunities that we rely on to reduce the burden of lung cancer mortality. Further, this bipartisan bill requires an interagency review between the Department of Health and Human Services and the Departments of War and Veterans Affairs to determine the current research landscape in identifying new areas of research to explore. H.R. 2319 is an opportunity to take another critical step in our fight against cancer in the United States. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2319, the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2025. I want to begin by commending my colleague, Representative Brendan F. Boyle, for his tireless leadership on this critical issue. Every 9 minutes, a woman loses her life to lung cancer. In the time it will take the House to consider this bill, more mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends will be lost. This legislation is a meaningful step in addressing the disproportionate impact of lung cancer on women. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States. It kills more people each year than breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer combined. Despite historically lower smoking rates than men, women are estimated to make up over half of all new lung cancer cases and nearly half of all deaths. In the United States, we are seeing a concerning trend among young and middle-aged women who are being diagnosed with lung cancer. Even more striking, lung cancer disproportionately strikes women who have never smoked. Approximately two-thirds of never-smokers who have been diagnosed with lung cancer are women. A clear understanding of the existing research and innovative opportunities to reduce lung cancer mortality, particularly among women in underserved populations, is needed. This legislation directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, working in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to conduct a comprehensive interagency review of lung cancer in women and in underserved populations. This legislation will help us take steps toward answering key questions our researchers need to answer. We need to know what environmental and genomic factors contribute to lung cancer in women. We need to know where the gaps are in our existing research. We need to know how we expand access to early detection and screening, which we know saves lives. And we need to know how we mount a [[Page H3021]] public awareness campaign to better inform the public and providers. So for all these reasons, I urge my colleagues to once again support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick). Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2319, the Women and Lung Cancer Research Preventive Services Act. Lung cancer is the leading cancer death among women, and it disproportionately impacts women who have never even smoked. This bipartisan bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, to conduct an interagency review of current research on women and lung cancer. {time} 1420 Madam Speaker, this bill addresses the disparities women with lung cancer face, and it addresses it head-on, strengthening research, access to preventative services, and raising awareness. This is a significant step in addressing a disease that has left far too many women in my community and across the country vulnerable. The unique impact of lung cancer on women requires an investment in strengthening research and access to preventative care. I look forward to continuing to work across the aisle to ensure that real progress is delivered, that this bill makes it across the finish line, and that women and families impacted by this devastating disease finally get the help that they need. I also thank my friend and fellow Pennsylvanian Brendan Boyle for his partnership and leadership on this very, very important policy, and all my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for working to advance this critical bill to save lives. Finally, I thank the tireless advocates who have championed this legislation for years and who have been working to address this disparity in cancer research and care. Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 2319. Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Boyle) who is the ranking member of the House Budget Committee. Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my legislation, H.R. 2319, the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act. This is a bipartisan, commonsense bill that takes on a serious and too often overlooked public health disparity. The legislation would require the Secretary of HHS, in consultation with the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, to conduct an interagency review of research on women and lung cancer, including access to preventiv

Referenced legislation: HR2319, HR2319