On Tuesday, Congresswomen Susan W. Brooks’ (Ind.-05) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s (Fla.-23) bipartisan legislation (H.R. 4078) to reauthorize and increase funding for the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act (EARLY) Act passed the full U.S. House.
Brooks
“One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer over their lifetime,” Brooks said. “Many women with breast cancer have no symptoms, which is why regular breast cancer screenings are so crucially important. I am proud Congress unanimously voted to reauthorize the EARLY Act because it shines a necessary spotlight on the threats posed by breast cancer to young women. This bipartisan legislation also seeks to educate health care professionals and the public about the importance of young women’s breast health and supports research that will help end breast cancer once and for all.”
Background
The EARLY Act empowers young and high risk women to understand their bodies and advocate for their health. By providing funding for breast cancer education and screening programs, the EARLY Act continues Congress’ continued commitment to protecting all Americans, particularly those at risk of dangerous diseases.
First passed in 2010, the EARLY Act provides continuous access to the health information and resources that are critical throughout a woman’s life. So far, the EARLY Act has created a crucial education and outreach campaign administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that highlights breast cancer risks facing young women and certain women at higher risk due to their ethnic or racial background, while empowering them with the tools they need to fight this disease.
This legislation reauthorizes the program through FY2024 and funds CDC programs to identify gaps in education and awareness among young women and health care providers about breast health. It supports young survivors through grants to organizations focused on helping them cope with the many unique challenges they face as young women and in implementing a targeted media campaign to reach young and higher risk women.
The EARLY Act is supported by the American College of Radiology, Breast Friends, Bright Pink, FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Moffitt Cancer Center, National Black Nurses Association, National Consortium of Breast Centers, National Hispanic Medical Association, Oncology Nursing Society, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Sharsheret, Susan G. Komen, and Tigerlily Foundation.