U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA) on Jan. 30 introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would jumpstart federal research aimed at fighting lung cancer among women, the leading disease the American Cancer Society said could cause almost as many female deaths this year than all gynecologic cancers combined.
“This legislation will allow us to make greater progress in battling lung cancer and providing increased access to preventive services that can save lives,” said Rep. Comstock, an original cosponsor of the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2018, H.R. 4897, along with U.S. Reps. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Rick Nolan (D-MN), and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR).
H.R. 4897 calls for a federal interagency study to assess current research and the availability of preventative measures regarding lung cancer among women, and to recommend what more might be needed. The collaborative study between the secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Defense, and Veterans Affairs also would examine lung cancer education and awareness programs and recommend how these efforts could be expanded, according to a summary provided by Comstock’s office.
Rep. Comstock said H.R. 4897 would provide critical resources toward battling what has become the largest cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States.
“We all know someone who has been devastated by lung cancer. I lost a best friend this past year and I join as an original cosponsor on this important bipartisan legislation in honor of Kate O’Beirne, who we lost last April,” said the congresswoman. O’Beirne was a noted conservative commentator and editor of the National Review.
To date, studies cited by Comstock’s office indicate that women are more likely than men to develop lung cancer at a young age, with 193 women on average dying of the disease every day. The American Cancer Society estimates that 70,500 women will die from lung cancer this year, nearly as much as the total estimated deaths from breast, ovarian, cervical and other gynecologic cancers.
“Countless individuals across the country have been devastated by lung cancer,” said Rep. LoBiondo, who co-chairs the Congressional Lung Cancer Caucus with Rep. Nolan. “This is a very personal issue for my family, responsible for the death of both of my wife Tina’s parents. This is a disease that knows no boundaries in who it affects, thus we must double our efforts to raise awareness and reduce mortality.”
Rep. Bonamici added that her mother is a lung cancer survivor. “So I know we can and must do more to prevent this devastating disease and support women who are battling it.”
Rep. Nolan also pointed out the need to learn more about “why there is a greater prevalence of lung cancer amongst women and, in particular, amongst women who have never smoked.”
H.R. 4897 has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee for its consideration. U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on Jan. 30 introduced a bipartisan companion proposal, S. 2358, that has been referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.