HR28: HR28 Georgia Cancer Control Consortium; part of the Georgia Department of Public Health, HPV Cancer Free GA, Cancer Pathways, and The Susan Jolley Awareness Program; exceptional contributions to cervical cancer education and awareness in Georgia; commend

25 LC 112 2680 House Resolution 28 By: Representatives Evans of the 57th, Sanchez of the 42nd, and Au of the 50th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium as part of the Georgia1 Department of Public Health, HPV Cancer Free GA, Cancer Pathways, and The Susan Jolley2 Awareness Program for their exceptional contributions to cervic al cancer education and3 awareness in Georgia; and for other purposes.4 WHEREAS, January is designated by the United States Congress as Cervical Cancer5 Awareness Month; and6 WHEREAS, the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium, HPV Cancer Free GA, Cancer7 Pathways, and The Susan Jolley Awareness Program are dedicated to HPV and cervical8 cancer awareness efforts in Georgia; and9 WHEREAS, in acknowledgment of their important cancer prevention work, the following10 are recognized as the 2025 Georgia HPV Champions: the Atrium Fl oyd Family Practice11 Residency, Healthy Savannah, the East Georgia Cancer Coalition, the Georgia Campaign for12 Adolescent Power and Potential, the Turner Elementary School Ba sed Health Clinic, and13 Georgia Highlands Medical Services – Highlands Medical Plaza Pediatrics; and14 H. R. 28 - 1 - 25 LC 112 2680 WHEREAS, in the State of Georgia, the state-level cervical cancer screening rate is below15 the national average at 76.5 percent (national median: 77.7 per cent), with one out of five16 women in Georgia not receiving regular screenings for cervical cancer; and17 WHEREAS, the geographical disparities within Georgia's counties include Forsyth,18 McIntosh, Towns, and Franklin counties having cervical cancer screening rates lower than19 60 percent; and20 WHEREAS, only 59 percent of Georgia adolescents are up-to-date with the recommended21 doses of HPV vaccination, and the HPV vaccination rate in Georg ia is below the Healthy22 People 2030 target rate of 80 percent; and23 WHEREAS, within the State of Georgia, there are 444 new cases of cervical cancer annually24 (12,670 new cases nationwide) and 140 deaths each year (4,200 annual deaths nationwide);25 and26 WHEREAS, cervical cancer is most often diagnosed between the ag es of 35 and 44. The27 average age of diagnosis in the United States is 50. About 20 percent of cervical cancers are28 diagnosed after age 65. While guidelines often recommend stoppi ng cervical cancer29 screenings after age 65 for individuals with a history of norma l test results, those without30 such history are encouraged to continued monitoring.31 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that32 the members of this body recognize and commend the 2025 HPV Champions as well as the33 Georgia Cancer Control Consortium, HPV Cancer Free GA, Cancer Pathways, and The 34 H. R. 28 - 2 - 25 LC 112 2680 Susan Jolly Awareness Program for their exceptional efforts and commitment to advancing35 cervical cancer awareness and eliminating this disease.36 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized37 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to38 members of the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium, HPV Cancer Fr ee GA, Cancer39 Pathways, and The Susan Jolley Awareness Program.40 H. R. 28 - 3 -