IV 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 242 
Raising awareness of the racial disparities in the impact of colorectal cancer 
on the Black community. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 16, 2021 
Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN (for herself, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. 
ALLRED, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. JACKSON LEE, 
Mrs. HAYES, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, 
Mr. HASTINGS, Ms. PRESSLEY, Mr. COHEN, Mr. THOMPSON of Mis-
sissippi, Mr. SAN NICOLAS, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. NOR-
TON, Ms. ADAMS, Ms. BASS, Mr. SIRES, Mr. SOTO, Mr. POCAN, and Mr. 
CARSON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Raising awareness of the racial disparities in the impact 
of colorectal cancer on the Black community. 
Whereas colorectal cancer, or CRC, is the third-most common 
cancer in the United States for men and women com-
bined, and the second leading cause of cancer death; 
Whereas this disease takes the lives of more than 50,000 peo-
ple each year; 
Whereas the rate of CRC is 24 percent higher among Black 
men and is 19 percent higher among Black women than 
compared to non-Hispanic Whites; 
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•HRES 242 IH 
Whereas the rate of CRC death is 47 percent higher among 
Black men and is 34 percent higher among Black women 
than compared to non-Hispanic Whites; 
Whereas CRC is the third-leading cause of cancer death in 
both Black men and women in the United States; 
Whereas deaths from colorectal cancer among people younger 
than 55 have increased one percent per year from 2008 
to 2017; 
Whereas the tragic death of 43-year-old actor Chadwick 
Boseman from colorectal cancer has catalyzed more con-
versation about CRC’s impact on the Black community; 
Whereas getting screened for CRC is highly recommended at 
age 50, and currently the United States Preventive Serv-
ices Task Force is considering a recommendation to 
lower the age at which people should first get screened 
to 45; and 
Whereas CRC has a 90-percent survival rate when caught at 
the earliest stage and there are many screening methods 
available: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the deadly impact colorectal can-
cer has to the American people; 
(2) acknowledges the racial disparity that the 
Black community faces when dealing with colorectal 
cancer; 
(3) encourages the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention to continue and expand their work to 
identify those factors that result in the colorectal ra-
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•HRES 242 IH 
cial screening disparity and develop effective strate-
gies to reduce and ultimately eliminate racial dis-
parities in colorectal screening; 
(4) encourages everyone get colorectal cancer 
screening when recommended by the United States 
Preventive Services Task Force; 
(5) encourages the United States Preventive 
Services Task Force to finalize its recommendation 
that screening begin at 45 years of age and provide 
special recommendations that highlight the impact 
colorectal cancer has on the Black community; and 
(6) urges State health plans to quickly adopt 
new measures to cover colorectal screenings for indi-
viduals at a lower age, with special consideration for 
the Black community and all those at higher risk for 
colorectal cancer. 
Æ 
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