Bill > HR3490

This bill, named the Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act of 2025, requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to produce a comprehensive report on esophageal cancer within one year of enactment. The bill begins by highlighting critical findings about esophageal cancer, including its rapid increase among Americans, particularly men, with incidence rising over 700 percent in recent decades and a devastating survival rate where only 1 in 5 patients survive five years. The GAO report will specifically evaluate the total healthcare spending for federal employees and retirees diagnosed with esophageal cancer under the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program and analyze the frequency of cancer screenings for high-risk individuals based on established guidelines. The bill emphasizes the importance of early detection, noting that patients diagnosed in early stages have a significantly higher survival rate (up to 49 percent), and provides context about risk factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, smoking history, chronic reflux, obesity, and family history. By mandating this report, the bill aims to raise awareness about esophageal cancer and potentially inform future prevention and screening strategies.

Government Affairs, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3490/all-info