HR 230: Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; March 2025; recognize

House Resolution 230

By: Representatives Cooper of the 45th, Fleming of the 114th, Reeves of the 99th, Hawkins of the 27th, and Silcox of the 53rd

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing March 2025 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) dedicates time and resources to promote colorectal cancer (CRC) awareness; and

WHEREAS, ASGE represents more than 16,000 gastroenterologists and allied health care professionals around the world who are dedicated to advancing patient care and digestive health through education and advocacy and promoting excellence in gastrointestinal endoscopy; and

WHEREAS, the number of uninsured or underinsured patients in the United States who have a positive (abnormal) CRC screening test result who get a timely follow-up colonoscopy is just 50 to 70 percent; and

WHEREAS, the low follow-up colonoscopy rate can be attributed to a diverse and complex mix of barriers or obstacles related to the health care system, policy, and one's socioeconomic status and community; and

WHEREAS, CRC is now the leading cause of cancer death in men under 50 and the second leading cause of cancer death in women under 50 in the United States; and

WHEREAS, CRC has a 90 percent survival rate when detected early enough; and

WHEREAS, ASGE recommends that people who have not had colorectal cancer or polyps or who do not have any high-risk factors for CRC should begin getting screened for CRC at the age of 45; and

WHEREAS, ASGE is working with Community Health Care Systems, Inc., which is a federally qualified health center that cares for patients in middle Georgia, on a project that is designed to increase the follow-up colonoscopy rate for uninsured and underinsured people who have a positive or abnormal stool-based CRC screening test; and

WHEREAS, Community Health Care Systems is identifying and assisting hundreds of uninsured and underinsured patients to get screened for CRC using a stool-based DNA test and to get a follow-up colonoscopy if it's necessary at no cost to the patients; and

WHEREAS, ASGE and Community Health Care Systems will support these patients with professional navigators from Horizons Community Solutions who will guide them through the full continuum of care at no cost to the patients; and

WHEREAS, ASGE and Community Health Care Systems are collaborating on this project with physicians and allied health care professionals; patient navigators; legislators and regulators; state and local advocacy organizations such as the Georgia CRC Roundtable, Georgia CORE, and Fight CRC!; and community leaders; and

WHEREAS, gastroenterologists perform colonoscopies to prevent or detect CRC by removing colon polyps; and

WHEREAS, a follow-up colonoscopy is required after a positive non-colonoscopic screening test result to derive the benefits of screening; and

WHEREAS, there are several other recommended options for CRC screening; and

WHEREAS, offering patients screening options can help increase patient adherence to screening.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize March 2025 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and encourage eligible citizens to consult their health care providers and begin regular screenings.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that ASGE's project has the potential to lead to the development of a public policy model and a toolkit that can be used to increase the follow-up colonoscopy rate for underserved people across the United States and has the potential to save countless lives.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press.