WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Reps. Kathy Castor (D-FL), Don Bacon (R-NE) and Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) reintroduced the bipartisan Promoting Resources to Expand Vaccination, Education and New Treatments for HPV Cancers Act (“PREVENT HPV Cancers Act”) to prevent cancer and save lives by raising awareness about HPV and HPV-associated cancers through a national education campaign for health care providers, parents, and the public on the life-saving HPV immunization. The bill also would strengthen efforts to expand access to timely cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services for uninsured and underserved individuals.

“HPV immunization can prevent six types of cancer, and boosting immunization rates and raising public awareness can save tens of thousands of lives from preventable cancer deaths each year,” said Rep. Castor. “I’m proud to reintroduce the bipartisan PREVENT HPV Cancers Act with Reps. Bacon and Schrier to ensure Americans across the country have the information and access they need to protect themselves from HPV and HPV-associated cancers through immunizations and cancer screenings. I’m grateful to my friends back home at the Moffitt Cancer Center for bringing health experts and advocates together around the shared goal of eliminating HPV-associated cancers once and for all.”

“As someone who lost their sister to breast cancer, and have known other women affected by HPV cancers, I can’t stress more the need for education, awareness and testing to lower the rates of these cancers,” said Rep. Bacon. “The loss for family and friends as they lose someone affected is devastating, and many times early detection may have prevented that loss. This bill will help spread the word and make sure more patients can be tested early. I am thankful to have been asked by Rep. Castor to join this bill."

“As a pediatrician, I know that immunizations are one of our best tools for helping kids stay healthy,” said Congresswoman Schrier, M.D. “They are safe and effective, and they work best when there is widespread use. This bill will help spread awareness about the HPV vaccine, and I’m happy to co-lead it with my friend and colleague Representative Castor. The more people who know about this cancer-preventing shot, the more people we can protect from preventable cancers.”

Full text of the legislation is available here.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes six types of cancers, leading to approximately 39,000 cases of cancer each year in the United States, including cervical, anal, vaginal, vulvar, penile, and oropharynx cancers. Unfortunately, uptake rates are much lower than for other immunizations, with only 63% of adolescents aged 13-17 up to date with their HPV immunization.  

119th Endorsing Organizations: Alliance for Childhood Cancer; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Association for Cancer Research; American Association of Nurse Practitioners; American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; American Dental Association; Anal Cancer Foundation; Association for Clinical Oncology; Association of American Cancer Institutes; Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention; Cervivor, Inc.; Children’s Hospital Association; City of Hope; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Florida Association of Community Health Centers; Friends of Cancer Research; Global Initiative Against HPV and Cervical Cancer; Head and Neck Cancer Alliance; HealthyWoman; Healthy Men Inc.; HPVANDME; HPV Cancers Alliance; Immunize Colorado; MA HPV Coalition; March of Dimes; Moffitt Cancer Center; National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; National Comprehensive Cancer Network; National Consumers League; National League for Nursing; Oncology Nursing Society; Oregon HPV Prevention Alliance; Prevent Cancer Foundation; Society for Gynecologic Oncology; Team Maureen; The Susan Jolley Foundation; TogetHER for Health; Vaccinate Your Family; VAX 2 STOP CANCER.