U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) on July 17 cosponsored bipartisan legislation to reauthorize funding for the Young Women’s Breast Health Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act of 2009, which promotes early detection and education.
“Early detection is the most effective tool we have to reduce cancer mortality,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said. “As co-chair of the House Cancer Caucus, I’ve worked to expand access to screening, education, and risk-based interventions. The EARLY Act is a targeted, data-driven policy — built to close detection gaps, reach high-risk populations sooner, and reduce the number of women diagnosed too late.
“That’s how we save lives — and that’s the standard every public health initiative should meet,” added the congressman.
Rep. Fitzpatrick introduced the EARLY Act Reauthorization of 2025, H.R. 4541, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) to reauthorize the Young Women’s Breast Health Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act of 2009, also known as the EARLY Act.
With breast cancer remaining the most common cancer among women, H.R. 4541 would take a proactive approach by funding federally led education, outreach, and provider training to close detection gaps, empower early action, and save lives, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Fitzpatrick’s staff.
“My personal experience battling this terrible disease led to the creation of the EARLY Act, which was designed to help educate women and their healthcare providers about the specific threats and warning signs of breast cancer in younger women that lead to early detection, diagnosis, and survival,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz, who has been cancer free for 17 years. “Reauthorizing the EARLY Act means that we will continue the vital work of educating young and higher risk women about their breast health and do everything we can to save more lives.”
The EARLY Act is endorsed by more than 20 leading organizations, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Susan G. Komen, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Sharsheret, the Brem Foundation, and the Prevent Cancer Foundation, among others.