U.S. Representative Sandy Levin
12th District of Michigan

(Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) welcomed the inclusion of dedicated funding for gynecological cancer education and awareness. The Committee report on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill specifically calls attention to how important early detection of gynecological cancers is and calls upon the Secretary of HHS to begin a national education campaign -- specifically earmarking $100,000 for that purpose.

“For the first time, the Congress has provided dedicated funding to educate women, their families, and their physicians about the risk factors and early warning signs of gynecological cancer,” said Levin. “Each year, tens of thousands of women die of gynecologic cancer that could have been treated had it been detected earlier. That’s why public education is key – if women and their doctors know the risk factors and early signs, a specialist can use the diagnostic tool to rule out cancer or detect it in the early stages.” 

The language in this bill directs the Secretary of HHS and the Office of Women’s Health to coordinate their education and outreach efforts on gynecologic cancers into a national public education campaign, focused on early detection.  Rep. Levin first introduced “Johanna’s Law: The Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act,” in 2003 which would create a federal campaign to increase early detection of these deadly cancers, and, when possible, help women reduce their risk of ever contracting them. Currently, Johanna’s Law had earned bipartisan support of 228 cosponsors. Senators Specter and Harkin introduced the Senate version of the bill, which currently has 29 cosponsors.

“Our progress so far is tribute to the power of Johanna Silver Gordon’s story, and the work of cancer survivors and their families,” Levin continued. “This is a modest first step, but it demonstrates the strong bipartisan support that exists for gynecologic cancer education, something we can build on in the future.  By beginning the effort, even on a small scale, the Department of Health and Human Services will become more prepared to hit the ground running when we enact Johanna’s Law.”

For more information on the bill and Ms. Silver, visit: http://www.house.gov/levin/health_johanna.html.
 

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