Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act of 2025

Bill: 119-hr-3490
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]
Introduced: 2025-05-19
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Cancer

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Government information and archives

Health care costs and insurance
Latest action: action_date: 2025-06-04
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-05-19
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on (1) the impact of esophageal cancer-related health care spending under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) for federal employees and retirees diagnosed with esophageal cancer, and (2) how often FEHBP participants with a high risk of esophageal cancer undergo screenings according to established guidelines.&nbsp;</p>

tv_txt: IIB 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3490 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 4, 2025 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs AN ACT To require the Government Accountability Office to produce a report on esophageal cancer, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act of 2025 . 2. Findings Congress finds that— (1) esophageal cancer is the fastest increasing cancer among American men; (2) esophageal cancer is one of the fastest growing cancer diagnoses among all Americans, increasing more than 700 percent in recent decades; (3) esophageal cancer kills 1 American every 36 minutes every day; (4) esophageal cancer is among the deadliest of cancers, with only about 1 in 5 patients surviving 5 years; (5) esophageal cancer has tripled in incidence among younger Americans in recent decades; (6) esophageal cancer has low survival rates because it is usually discovered at advanced stages when treatment outcomes are poor; (7) raising awareness about esophageal cancer empowers individuals to seek preventive care, recognize symptoms, and pursue early detection strategies; (8) survivors, caregivers, medical professionals, and researchers have made tremendous strides in advancing treatment options and improving the quality of life for those affected by the disease; (9) esophageal cancer can be prevented through early detection of its precursor, Barrett’s esophagus, which can be eliminated with curative outpatient techniques; (10) research indicates that patients diagnosed with early-stage esophageal cancer have a significantly higher 5-year survival rate (as high as 49 percent) compared to those diagnosed at later stages, underscoring the critical need for enhanced screening and awareness; and (11) as of December 2022, the American Gastroenterological Association recommends screening with a standard upper endoscopy in individuals with 3 or more established risk factors for Barrett’s Esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma, including— (A) male sex; (B) non-Hispanic white ethnicity; (C) age of 50 years or older; (D) a history of smoking, chronic gastrointestinal reflux disease, or obesity; and (E) a family history of Barrett’s Esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma. 3. GAO report Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to Congress that includes an evaluation of— (1) the total impact of esophageal cancer-related health care spending under the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program for Federal employees and retirees diagnosed with esophageal cancer; and (2) how often individuals covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program with medical records indicating such individuals are high-risk for esophageal cancer undergo screening according to the established guidelines.

Passed the House of Representatives June 3, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3490 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To require the Government Accountability Office to produce a report on esophageal cancer, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act of 2025 . 2. Findings Congress finds that— (1) esophageal cancer is the fastest increasing cancer among American men; (2) esophageal cancer is one of the fastest growing cancer diagnoses among all Americans, increasing more than 700 percent in recent decades; (3) esophageal cancer kills 1 American every 36 minutes every day; (4) esophageal cancer is among the deadliest of cancers, with only about 1 in 5 patients surviving 5 years; (5) esophageal cancer has tripled in incidence among younger Americans in recent decades; (6) esophageal cancer has low survival rates because it is usually discovered at advanced stages when treatment outcomes are poor; (7) raising awareness about esophageal cancer empowers individuals to seek preventive care, recognize symptoms, and pursue early detection strategies; (8) survivors, caregivers, medical professionals, and researchers have made tremendous strides in advancing treatment options and improving the quality of life for those affected by the disease; (9) esophageal cancer can be prevented through early detection of its precursor, Barrett’s esophagus, which can be eliminated with curative outpatient techniques; (10) research indicates that patients diagnosed with early-stage esophageal cancer have a significantly higher 5-year survival rate (as high as 49 percent) compared to those diagnosed at later stages, underscoring the critical need for enhanced screening and awareness; and (11) as of December 2022, the American Gastroenterological Association recommends screening with a standard upper endoscopy in individuals with 3 or more established risk factors for Barrett’s Esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma, including— (A) male sex; (B) non-Hispanic white ethnicity; (C) age of 50 years or older; (D) a history of smoking, chronic gastrointestinal reflux disease, or obesity; and (E) a family history of Barrett’s Esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma. 3. GAO report Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to Congress that includes an evaluation of— (1) the total impact of esophageal cancer-related health care spending under the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program for Federal employees and retirees diagnosed with esophageal cancer; and (2) how often individuals covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program with medical records indicating such individuals are high-risk for esophageal cancer undergo screening according to the established guidelines.

Passed the House of Representatives June 3, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3490 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 19, 2025 Mr. Connolly (for himself and Mr. Comer ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform A BILL To require the Government Accountability Office to produce a report on esophageal cancer, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act . 2. Findings Congress finds that— (1) esophageal cancer is the fastest increasing cancer among American men; (2) esophageal cancer is one of the fastest growing cancer diagnoses among all Americans, increasing more than 700 percent in recent decades; (3) esophageal cancer kills 1 American every 36 minutes every day; (4) esophageal cancer is among the deadliest of cancers, with only about 1 in 5 patients surviving 5 years; (5) esophageal cancer has tripled in incidence among younger Americans in recent decades; (6) esophageal cancer has low survival rates because it is usually discovered at advanced stages when treatment outcomes are poor; (7) raising awareness about esophageal cancer empowers individuals to seek preventive care, recognize symptoms, and pursue early detection strategies; (8) survivors, caregivers, medical professionals, and researchers have made tremendous strides in advancing treatment options and improving the quality of life for those affected by the disease; (9) esophageal cancer can be prevented through early detection of its precursor, Barrett’s esophagus, which can be eliminated with curative outpatient techniques; (10) research indicates that patients diagnosed with early-stage esophageal cancer have a significantly higher 5-year survival rate (as high as 49 percent) compared to those diagnosed at later stages, underscoring the critical need for enhanced screening and awareness; and (11) as of December 2022, the American Gastroenterological Association recommends screening with a standard upper endoscopy in individuals with 3 or more established risk factors for Barrett’s Esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma, including— (A) male sex; (B) non-Hispanic white ethnicity; (C) age of 50 years or older; (D) a history of smoking, chronic gastrointestinal reflux disease, or obesity; and (E) a family history of Barrett’s Esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma. 3. GAO report Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to Congress that includes an evaluation of— (1) the total impact of esophageal cancer-related health care spending under the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program for Federal employees and retirees diagnosed with esophageal cancer; and (2) how often individuals covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program with medical records indicating such individuals are high-risk for esophageal cancer undergo screening according to the established guidelines.