IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 992 

Recognizing February 4, 2024, as ‘‘World Cancer Day’’, and its theme ‘‘Close 

the Care Gap’’, to raise awareness about and launch efforts to eliminate 

racial and ethnic inequities and disparities in cancer care both in the 

United States and globally. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 1, 2024 

Ms. SEWELL (for herself, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, and 

Mr. GRIJALVA) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing February 4, 2024, as ‘‘World Cancer Day’’, 

and its theme ‘‘Close the Care Gap’’, to raise awareness 

about and launch efforts to eliminate racial and ethnic 

inequities and disparities in cancer care both in the 

United States and globally. 

Whereas globally, approximately 1 in 5 people develops cancer during their lifetime, and 1 in 8 men and 1 in 11 

women die from the disease; 

Whereas the estimated global economic cost of cancer over 

the next three decades will reach over 

$25,000,000,000,000, with the United States facing the 

second-largest economic costs of cancer; 


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•HRES 992 IH 

Whereas it is estimated that in 2023, more than 1,900,000 

new cancer cases and more than 600,000 cancer deaths 

occurred in the United States; 

Whereas, although cancer incidence and mortality rates decreased overall for all racial and ethnic groups, African 

Americans and American Indians/Alaska Natives continue to have disproportionately higher rates of cancer 

than Whites (according to the American Cancer Society’s 

‘‘Cancer Facts and Figures’’ report); 

Whereas targeted cancer screening programs can effectively 

identify high-risk populations; 

Whereas research shows that the overall cancer screening 

rates are lower among African Americans, Latinos, Asian 

Americans, and American Indian/Alaska Natives than 

Whites; 

Whereas prevention and early detection initiatives can help 

significantly reduce cancer care disparities and inequities, 

and improve patient outcomes; 

Whereas recent findings suggest that people of color, when 

compared to Whites, receive later diagnoses for some 

types of cancer; 

Whereas increased patient navigation services can play a crucial role in reducing barriers to timely and appropriate 

cancer screenings and care by guiding patients through 

the complex health care system; 

Whereas expanding racial and ethnic diversity in clinical 

trials ensures the inclusivity of all populations and improves the generalizability of vitally important research 

findings; 

Whereas the underrepresentation of people of color, from 

both urban and rural communities, in clinical trials perVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:59 Feb 02, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR992.IH HR992

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petuates and exacerbates racial and ethnic cancer inequities and disparities, and limits access to potentially lifesaving treatments; 

Whereas, in 2021, the Director of the Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention declared racism a serious public 

health threat and announced efforts undertaken by the 

agency to accelerate its efforts to address racism as a 

fundamental driver of racial and ethnic health disparities 

and inequities; 

Whereas research suggests that racial and ethnic disparities 

in cancer and in cancer care are driven by systemic inequities both in society and within and throughout the 

United States health system that are rooted in racism 

and discrimination; 

Whereas significant racial and ethnic disparities exist in access to treatment according to nationally recognized cancer care guidelines; 

Whereas these disparities have a profound impact on stage of 

cancer diagnoses, access to consistent and quality cancer 

care, optimal patient outcomes, quality of life, and overall 

health equity; 

Whereas addressing and closing the cancer care gap is an urgent priority, and in recognition of this, the American 

Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the National Minority Quality Forum, and the National Comprehensive 

Cancer Network formed the Alliance for Cancer Care Equity (ACCE); 

Whereas ACCE is a group of health equity and patient advocates, community-based organizations, and professional 

societies working to support policies, promote practices, 

and create systems that prioritize the elimination of raVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:59 Feb 02, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR992.IH HR992

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cial and ethnic disparities and inequities across all cancers; and 

Whereas, in 2024, commemorations for ‘‘World Cancer Day’’ 

recognize the vital role of governments in advancing cancer care by eliminating racial and ethnic disparities and 

inequities in access to prevention, early screening and diagnostic services, and quality care and treatment: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports ‘‘World Cancer Day’’; 

3 (2) acknowledges the urgent need to eliminate 

4 barriers to consistent and reliable access to cancer 

5 screening programs, early detection initiatives, and 

6 quality cancer care for all racial and ethnic groups; 

7 (3) acknowledges that structural and systemic 

8 racism and discrimination are fundamental drivers 

9 in the Nation’s pressing and persistent racial and 

10 ethnic cancer care disparities and inequities; 

11 (4) recognizes the need for greater public 

12 awareness campaigns to educate those most affected 

13 by racial and ethnic disparities and inequities in 

14 cancer care about the importance of cancer screen15 ing and early detection across cancers with effective 

16 screening options, and how those services can be 

17 accessed; 

18 (5) commends the Alliance for Cancer Care Eq19 uity (ACCE) for its commitment to support policies, 


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1 promote practices, and create systems that prioritize 

2 the elimination of racial and ethnic disparities and 

3 inequities across all cancers; 

4 (6) encourages greater collaboration between 

5 health care practices and community-based organiza6 tions serving and representing communities of color 

7 to provide consistent and comprehensive cancer care 

8 and support services; 

9 (7) acknowledges the importance of patient 

10 navigation services in reducing racial and ethnic can11 cer care disparities and inequities by removing bar12 riers to care by guiding patients through complex 

13 health care systems; 

14 (8) recognizes the importance of including 

15 health equity and community-based organizations, 

16 and patient advocacy groups in the design, pro17 motion, recruitment, implementation, and analysis of 

18 clinical trials; 

19 (9) supports strengthening existing and expand20 ing new efforts to reduce racial and ethnic cancer 

21 care inequities and disparities to close the persistent 

22 and pervasive care gap for cancer because everyone, 

23 regardless of racial and ethnic background, should 

24 have access to quality cancer care; and 


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1 (10) urges a greater commitment to disman2 tling structural and systemic racism and discrimina3 tion in both the United States health system and so4 ciety at large that create, sustain, and exacerbate 

5 persistent and costly cancer care disparities and in6 equities in order to achieve racial and ethnic cancer 

7 care equity. 

Æ 


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