Us Congress House Bill HR224

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/10/23
• Refer: 3/10/23
• Refer: 3/17/23

Caption

Raising awareness of the racial disparities in the impact of colorectal cancer on the Black community.

Impact

The resolution aims to prompt state health plans to promptly implement new measures that would make colorectal screenings accessible to younger individuals, particularly focusing on the Black community and other high-risk groups. By advocating for earlier screening measures, the resolution seeks to improve early detection rates, which are crucial for effective treatment and survival outcomes in CRC cases. The bill also acknowledges the potential for significant public health improvements if awareness and screening rates among at-risk populations increase.

Summary

HR224 is a resolution intended to raise awareness about the racial disparities associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) in the Black community. It highlights that CRC is the third-most common cancer in the U.S. and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The bill points out that Black men and women have significantly higher rates of incidence and mortality from CRC compared to non-Hispanic Whites. The resolution emphasizes the need for targeted actions to address these disparities and encourages the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to enhance their efforts in this area.

Contention

While HR224 is largely a call to action and does not impose binding regulations, it does draw attention to the existing healthcare inequalities and stresses the importance of addressing systemic barriers that contribute to these disparities. The bill may face contention from those who argue about the allocation of resources and the actual implementation of the recommended strategies. The need for comprehensive research into environmental and physiological factors influencing CRC risk among younger adults, as highlighted in the resolution, could also spark debate over funding and research priorities.