U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) on Tuesday proposed bipartisan legislation that aims to promote more research into preventing and managing lung cancer among women who are non-smokers.
“I’m proud to join my colleagues to reintroduce legislation that will work to improve treatment and prevention of lung cancer in women,” said Sen. Capito, who signed on as one of seven original cosponsors of the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act, S. 2245.
The legislation is sponsored by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) is the lead original cosponsor.
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 59,000 women are estimated to die of lung cancer this year, while one in five women diagnosed with this disease are lifetime non-smokers.
West Virginia had the second-highest lung cancer incident rate and the highest rate of adult smokers in the United States, according to a 2022 report from the American Lung Association.
“As a state, West Virginia is disproportionately impacted by lung cancer,” Sen. Capito said. “While our numbers have improved in recent years, we must continue to expand both preventive efforts, as well as management.”
The bill has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.