Observing World Pancreatic Cancer Day
Floor Speech
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Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in observance of today, November 20, as World Pancreatic Cancer Day.
It is a time to shine light on the devastating impact of this disease and dedicate ourselves to improving prevention, early detection, and treatment.
Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and is on track to becoming the second by 2030. Over 67,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with pancreatic cancer.
Like so many Americans, I know all too well the terrible impact of this disease. In 2021, I lost my dear mother, Nancy Gardner Sewell, to pancreatic cancer.
By the time we caught it, the cancer had already spread. She passed away just 8 weeks after her diagnosis. In an effort to turn my pain into purpose, I have committed myself to doing everything I can to prevent other families from enduring such a painful loss.
Along with my friend Congressman Jodey Arrington, I am proud to be leading H.R. 842. In the 118th Congress, Congressman Arrington introduced our bill and surprised me by renaming it after my mother, the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Act.
Our bill would create a pathway for Medicare to cover multiple cancer early detection tests. Medicare will cover that by making sure that once it is approved by the FDA, it immediately becomes available to Medicare patients. This is so important because the promise of screening for more than 40 cancers lies with a simple blood test.
If passed, it will give our seniors their best shot at catching cancer early and treating it before it spreads. Just 2 months ago, our bill passed unanimously out of the House Ways and Means Committee. It enjoys overwhelmingly bipartisan support with 332 House cosponsors and 67 Senate cosponsors.
Later today, I look forward to convening lawmakers, researchers, advocates, and families for a roundtable on the latest developments in prevention, early detection, and treatment. I thank the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the American Cancer Society, and all of the more than 500 stakeholders for all of their efforts. I am so grateful for the tireless work of our cancer advocates. Without them, this bill would not enjoy such broad bipartisan support.
As we wear purple today in honor of World Pancreatic Cancer Day, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 842, the Nancy Gardner Sewell Multi-Cancer Early Detection Act.
Mr. Speaker, let's get this bill across the finish line and pave the way for the world without pancreatic cancer. National Rural Health Day
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Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize today as National Rural Health Day.
As the daughter of Alabama's rural Black Belt, I know firsthand the challenges that our rural communities face when it comes to accessing quality, affordable healthcare.
For too many patients in rural America, getting seen by a doctor requires driving miles to the nearest hospital or health center. Broken payment systems and workforce challenges have put an enormous strain on our healthcare system.
In Congress, I am proud to be leading legislation that will tackle these challenges. Our Graduate Medical Education bill will add thousands of residency slots, creating a pipeline of qualified health professionals to serve patients in rural America.
Our Save America's Rural Hospitals Act takes important steps to ensure that rural hospitals are fairly reimbursed for their services. The Home Health Stabilization Act will allow more seniors to receive the care that they need in the comfort of their own homes.
I am also working hard to expand access to telehealth services, mental health, and substance use programs, and support our rural ambulance providers. It is so important that our rural ambulance providers know the importance that they have in rural America.
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to healthcare, our rural communities are on life support. Republicans' so-called big, beautiful bill makes the largest cut to healthcare in American history. Despite the dysfunction in Washington, we in Alabama are fortunate to have amazing partners standing in the gap.
Just last month, I was thrilled to attend the groundbreaking of the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences in Demopolis, Alabama. This new state- supported residential high school is located in the heart of Alabama's Black Belt, where it will cultivate the next generation of healthcare professionals.
I believe that access to quality, affordable healthcare should be a right for all Americans and not just for the few. As we observe National Rural Health Day, let us recommit ourselves to ensuring that every American, regardless of their ZIP Code, gets the care that they need and that they deserve.
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