WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced the Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS) for Cancer Act of 2025. The bipartisan legislation would reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. For more than 30 years, the NBCCEDP has effectively provided critical breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnostic tests and treatment to underserved, limited income, underinsured and uninsured communities nationwide.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) supports immediate passage of this critical legislation to ensure the NBCCEDP has the resources needed to continue providing access to lifesaving screening, diagnostic and treatment services.
The following is a statement from ACS CAN President Lisa A. Lacasse:
“We thank Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Joseph Morelle (D-NY) for championing legislation that will provide better access to breast and cervical cancer screening, which will lead to more cancers being diagnosed at an earlier stage when treatment is more effective and less expensive, ultimately resulting in better health outcomes.
“Improving access to cancer prevention and early detection services is critical to reducing the cancer burden for everyone. Research shows that women who are uninsured and underinsured have lower breast and cervical cancer screening rates, resulting in a greater risk of being diagnosed at a later, more advanced stage of disease.
“The SCREENS for Cancer Act can help preserve access to the NBCCEDP, which has been highly successful at improving cancer screening rates for underserved communities. By allowing the flexibility needed to build on already impactful work and increasing investment in outreach, the legislation will enable the NBCCEDP to reach more eligible people who may not otherwise be screened.
“We urge the House to pass the SCREENS for Cancer Act to ensure continued access to breast and cervical cancer screening, which can help reduce the cancer burden and save more lives.”