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Promoting Resources to Expand Vaccination, Education, and New Treatments for Hpv Cancers Act of 2021

Floor Speech

By: Frank Pallone, Jr.

Date: Nov. 30, 2021

Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1550) to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a public awareness campaign with respect to human papillomavirus, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1550

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Resources to Expand Vaccination, Education, and New Treatments for HPV Cancers Act of 2021'' or the ``PREVENT HPV Cancers Act of 2021''. SEC. 2. PREVENTING HPV AND HPV-ASSOCIATED CANCERS; REAUTHORIZING JOHANNA'S LAW.

Section 317P of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-17) is amended--

(1) in subsection (c)(1)--

(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``cervical'';

(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;

(C) in subparagraph (D) by striking ``other'' and all that follows through ``cancer.'' and inserting ``recommended diagnostics for early intervention for, and prevention of, HPV-associated cancers; and''; and

(D) by adding at the end the following:

``(E) the importance of recommended vaccines for prevention of HPV and HPV-associated cancers, including for males;''; and

(2) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:

``(d) Johanna's Law.--

``(1) National public awareness campaign.--

``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a national campaign to increase the awareness and knowledge of health care providers and individuals with respect to gynecologic cancers, HPV, and HPV-associated cancers, and the importance of HPV vaccines in preventing HPV and HPV-associated cancers.

``(B) Written materials.--Activities under the national campaign under subparagraph (A) shall include--

``(i) maintaining a supply of written materials that provide information to the public on gynecologic cancers, HPV, and HPV-associated cancers; and

``(ii) distributing the materials to members of the public upon request.

``(C) Public service announcements.--Activities under the national campaign under subparagraph (A) shall, in accordance with applicable law and regulations, include publishing materials in digital or print form, public engagement, and developing and placing public service announcements intended to encourage individuals to discuss with their physicians--

``(i) their risk of gynecologic cancers and HPV-associated cancers; and

``(ii) the importance of HPV vaccines in preventing HPV and HPV-associated cancers.

``(D) Targeted populations.--Activities under the national campaign under subparagraph (A) shall include culturally and linguistically competent public service announcements and other forms of communication and public engagement under subparagraph (C) targeted to--

``(i) specific higher-risk populations of individuals based on race, ethnicity, level of acculturation, and family history, including African-American and Ashkenazi Jewish individuals;

``(ii) communities with high rates of unvaccinated individuals, including males;

``(iii) rural communities;

``(iv) populations affected by increasing rates of oropharynx cancers;

``(v) health care providers specializing in assisting survivors of sexual assault; and

``(vi) such other communities as the Secretary determines appropriate.

``(2) Consultation.--In carrying out the national campaign under this section, the Secretary shall consult with--

``(A) health care providers;

``(B) nonprofit organizations (including gynecologic cancer organizations and organizations that represent communities and individuals most affected by HPV-associated cancers and low vaccination rates);

``(C) State and local public health departments; and

``(D) elementary and secondary education organizations and institutions of higher education.

``(3) Demonstration projects regarding outreach and education strategies.--

``(A) In general.--

``(i) Program.--The Secretary may carry out a program to award grants or contracts to public or nonprofit private entities for the purpose of carrying out demonstration projects to test, compare, and evaluate different evidence- based outreach and education strategies to increase the awareness and knowledge of women, their families, physicians, nurses, and other key health professionals with respect to gynecologic cancers, including with respect to early warning signs, risk factors, prevention, screening, and treatment options.

``(ii) Science-based resources.--In making awards under clause (i), the Secretary shall encourage awardees to use science-based resources such as the Inside Knowledge About Gynecologic Cancer education campaign of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

``(B) Preferences in awarding grants or contracts.--In making awards under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall give preference to--

``(i) applicants with demonstrated expertise in gynecologic cancer education or treatment or in working with groups of women who are at increased risk of gynecologic cancers; and

``(ii) applicants that, in the demonstration project funded by the grant or contract, will establish linkages between physicians, nurses, other key health professionals, health profession students, hospitals, payers, and State health departments.

``(C) Application.--To seek a grant or contract under subparagraph (A), an entity shall submit an application to the Secretary in such form, in such manner, and containing such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this paragraph.

``(D) Certain requirements.--In making awards under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall--

``(i) make awards, as practicable, to not fewer than five applicants; and

``(ii) ensure that information provided through demonstration projects under this paragraph is consistent with the best available medical information.

``(E) Report to congress.--Not later than 24 months after the date of the enactment of the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act of 2021, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report that--

``(i) summarizes the activities of demonstration projects under subparagraph (A);

``(ii) evaluates the extent to which the projects were effective in increasing awareness and knowledge of risk factors and early warning signs in the populations to which the projects were directed; and

``(iii) identifies barriers to early detection and appropriate treatment of such cancers.

``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying out this subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.''.

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Mr. PALLONE. 1550.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1550, the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act. This bill will help prevent cancer in thousands of individuals by stepping up our outreach and education to ensure that we are reaching people eligible for human papillomavirus, or HPV vaccines.

HPV causes nearly 36,000 cases of cancer in men and women each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that nearly 33,000 of these cases can be prevented through vaccination.

The HPV vaccine has been shown to be highly effective in most forms of HPV, and in turn, preventing cancer caused by the virus. For example, women who have been vaccinated against HPV have been shown to be 90 percent less likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Mr. Speaker, despite the high efficacy of the vaccines and increased vaccination rates, the rates are still below CDC targets and far lower for HPV than for other recommended vaccines. And while cervical cancer rates have gone down, other types of HPV-associated cancers, including head and neck cancers, have been on the rise.

We must do more to improve our outreach to teens and young adults, and this bill does that by creating a national campaign to educate health providers and the public on HPV, HPV-associated cancers, and the importance of HPV vaccines in preventing these cancers.

Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan legislation passed unanimously out of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. It deserves our support here on the floor, so please join me in preventing cancer and supporting this bill.

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Mr. PALLONE. Castor), the sponsor of the legislation.

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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would urge support for this bipartisan and very important bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R. 1550, the ``PREVENT HPV Cancers Act of 2021.''

I would like to thank my colleagues Congresswoman Kathy Castor and Congresswoman Kim Schrier for introducing this important legislation.

The ``Promoting Resources to Expand Vaccination, Education and New Treatments for HPV Cancers Act'' or the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act has the ultimate goal of preventing HPV-related cancers.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common virus that causes six types of cancers, leading to nearly 36,000 cases of cancer in the United States every year, according to the CDC.

Nearly 42 million people are currently infected with HPV in the United States.

The HPV vaccine provides safe, effective, and lasting protection against the HPV infections that most commonly cause cancer.

This vaccine is so effective that the World Health Organization established a goal of total eradication of cervical cancer--and this legislation can be part of our nation's commitment to reaching that goal.

This vaccine can help prevent these cancers, and it is the goal of the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act to increase vaccination rates.

HPV-related cancers disproportionately affect individuals who are living on a lower income, have lower education levels, and are from a racial or ethnic minority group.

Increased public awareness and immunization initiatives would help improve vaccination rates in these underserved communities.

More comprehensive research on the HPV vaccine, as authorized in the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act, would also help better identify these disparities and ways to address them.

There is rampant societal mistrust and vaccine hesitancy, and while immunizations are one of the greatest public health tools we have, they work best when there is widespread use.

This legislation will spread awareness so that more people will be vaccinated against HPV, and fund research to help stop the largely preventable deaths caused by HPV linked cancers.

When we have the tools to prevent cancer, we should without a doubt utilize them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R. 1550, the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act of 2021. =========================== NOTE ===========================

November 30, 2021 on page H6684, in the first column, the following appeared: When we have the tools to prevent cancer, we should without a doubt utilize them. Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R. 1550, the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act of 2021.

The online version has been corrected to read: When we have the tools to prevent cancer, we should without a doubt utilize them. Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R. 1550, the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act of 2021. ========================= END NOTE =========================

I would like to thank my colleagues Congresswoman Kathy Castor and Congresswoman Kim Schrier for introducing this important legislation.

The Promoting Resources to Expand Vaccination, Education, and New Treatments for HPV Cancers Act, or the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act, has the ultimate goal of preventing HPV-related cancers.