Supporting State, local, and community initiatives to encourage parents, teachers, camp counselors, and childcare professionals to take measures to prevent sunburns in the minors they care for, and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that State, local, and community entities should continue to support efforts to curb the incidences of skin cancer beginning with childhood skin protection.

Bill: 117-hres-436
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14]
Introduced: 2021-05-25
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer

Child health

Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation

Elementary and secondary education

Health promotion and preventive care

Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Musculoskeletal and skin diseases
Latest action: action_date: 2021-05-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-05-25
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This resolution expresses support for policies and other efforts to prevent childhood sunburns, such as exempting sunscreen from over-the-counter medication bans in schools.</p>

tv_txt: IV 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 436 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 25, 2021 Mr. Joyce of Ohio (for himself, Mr. Cooper , Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania , and Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned RESOLUTION Supporting State, local, and community initiatives to encourage parents, teachers, camp counselors, and childcare professionals to take measures to prevent sunburns in the minors they care for, and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that State, local, and community entities should continue to support efforts to curb the incidences of skin cancer beginning with childhood skin protection.

Whereas increasing intermittent sun exposure in childhood and during one’s lifetime is associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma; Whereas even one blistering sunburn during childhood or adolescence can nearly double a person's chance of developing melanoma later in life, while five or more blistering sunburns in late adolescence increases one’s melanoma risk by 80 percent and nonmelanoma risk by 68 percent; Whereas because sunscreen is an over-the-counter drug, sunscreen is not allowed in many schools without physician authorization; Whereas in these cases, sunscreen is usually required to be stored in a locked cabinet in the nurse’s office; Whereas sunscreens that meet FDA standards can be used safely without consulting a health care professional when used as directed; and Whereas research shows that broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, when used as directed with other skin protection measures, can prevent sunburn and reduce the risk of skin cancer and premature aging: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) supports Federal, State, and local efforts to exempt sunscreen from over-the-counter medication bans in schools and encourages all schools to allow students to possess sunscreen at school without restriction and without requiring physician authorization; (2) encourages State, local, and community entities, including schools and summer camps, to develop policies that provide for the use of and access to sunscreen and articles of sun-protective clothing; and (3) supports initiatives and efforts to encourage physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals, through pediatric wellness exams and other opportunities, to educate parents and their children about sun-safe behaviors, including instructions on how to apply sunscreen and effectively wear comprehensive sun-protective clothing.