--- title: SR 195. Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; recognize March 2025 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr195 cite_as: SR 195, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr195 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr195.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr195/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70370 date: 2025-02-18 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr194.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr196.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr195.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 195 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-18 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Ben Watson - David Lucas - Nan Orrock - Chuck Hufstetler - Kay Kirkpatrick text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR195/2025 upstream_id: 1970358 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - colorectal cancer awareness - public health - cancer screening - Georgia Senate resolution --- # SR 195. Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; recognize March 2025 ## Text Senate Resolution 195 By: Senators Watson of the 1st, Lucas of the 26th, Orrock of the 36th, Hufstetler of the 52nd and Kirkpatrick of the 32nd 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 SENATE 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 Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia Senate resolution designates March 2025 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, encouraging residents to talk to their doctors and get screened for colorectal cancer. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia Senate recognizes March 2025 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. It does not change any law or create new programs; instead it highlights the work of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and Community Health Care Systems, Inc., a federally qualified health center in middle Georgia, on a project to help uninsured and underinsured patients get follow-up colonoscopies after an abnormal cancer screening test. The resolution states that colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in men under 50 and the second leading cause in women under 50 in the United States, and notes it has a 90 percent survival rate when caught early. It encourages Georgians to consult health care providers and begin regular screenings, and directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. ### What it does - Formally recognizes March 2025 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in Georgia. - Encourages eligible Georgia citizens to consult health care providers and begin regular colorectal cancer screenings. - Acknowledges a project by ASGE and Community Health Care Systems, Inc. to increase follow-up colonoscopy rates among uninsured and underinsured patients. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. ### Who it affects This resolution mainly addresses Georgia residents eligible for colorectal cancer screening, uninsured and underinsured patients served by Community Health Care Systems in middle Georgia, and gastroenterologists and health care organizations involved in cancer screening advocacy. ### Why it matters While the resolution carries no legal force or funding, it publicly spotlights colorectal cancer risks and screening gaps, potentially raising awareness among Georgians about the importance of early screening, especially for uninsured and underinsured patients facing barriers to follow-up care. ### Key provisions - The resolving clause recognizes March 2025 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and encourages citizens to consult health care providers and begin regular screenings. - A further resolution clause notes ASGE's project could lead to a public policy model and toolkit to increase follow-up colonoscopy rates nationally. - A final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and press. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-18) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-02-18) - Sponsors: Ben Watson, David Lucas, Nan Orrock, Chuck Hufstetler, Kay Kirkpatrick - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70370 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr195.md?full=1