HR230: HR230 Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; March 2025; recognize

This resolution does not change Georgia law. It formally recognizes March 2025 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in the Georgia House of Representatives. The text cites background from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and a middle Georgia health center, Community Health Care Systems, about low follow-up colonoscopy rates among uninsured and underinsured patients and colorectal cancer's high survival rate when caught early. The resolution encourages eligible citizens to consult their health care providers and begin regular screenings. It also states that a related ASGE project could lead to a public policy model and toolkit to raise follow-up colonoscopy rates for underserved people nationally. Finally, it directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

• Formally designates March 2025 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in the Georgia House of Representatives.
• Encourages eligible Georgia citizens to consult health care providers and begin regular colorectal cancer screenings.
• Recognizes an ASGE and Community Health Care Systems project aimed at improving follow-up colonoscopy rates for uninsured and underinsured patients.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

The resolution speaks broadly to Georgia citizens eligible for colorectal cancer screening, health care providers and gastroenterologists, uninsured and underinsured patients served by Community Health Care Systems in middle Georgia, and organizations like the Georgia CRC Roundtable and Fight CRC.

While it carries no legal force, the resolution publicly highlights colorectal cancer as a leading cause of cancer death in younger adults and points to low follow-up colonoscopy rates among uninsured patients, potentially raising public awareness and encouraging more Georgians to get screened.

• The whereas clauses describe colorectal cancer's high survival rate when detected early and its status as a leading cause of cancer death in people under 50.
• The resolution notes follow-up colonoscopy rates among uninsured or underinsured patients with abnormal screening results are only 50 to 70 percent.
• The operative resolving clause recognizes March 2025 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and urges citizens to consult providers and get screened.
• A further resolved clause acknowledges the potential of an ASGE-led project to create a public policy model and toolkit for improving screening follow-up nationally.
• A final clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press.

1. 2025-02-11House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2025-02-11House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-11House Hopper (House)

• Sharon Cooper (R, HD-045)Primary sponsor
• Tim Fleming (R, HD-114)
• Matt Reeves (R, HD-099)
• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)
• Deborah Silcox (R, HD-053)

• colorectal cancer awareness
• public health
• cancer screening
• health care access