U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., recently introduced a proposal to “promote increased exploration into the prevention and management of lung cancer among women, with a specific focus on non-smokers.”
Noting that the “American Cancer Society estimates that 59,910 women will die of lung cancer in 2023, and one in five women diagnosed with this illness are lifetime non-smokers,” Rubio brought back the “Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act” last week.
“Despite the significant impact that lung cancer has on Floridians and across our nation, there is a lack of research on this terrible disease and its disproportionate effect on non-smoking women. This bill is a step forward in the battle against lung cancer and will encourage additional research to develop better prevention and treatment tools. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation that would help find solutions to a disease that claims the lives of too many American women,” said Rubio.
The bill has seven Senate co-sponsors led by U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif.
“Too many women are still dying of lung cancer and we don’t yet know why it’s happening more frequently for women with no history of smoking than non-smoking men. Our bill would promote more research into prevention and treatment so women will no longer disproportionately suffer from this terrible disease,” said Feinstein.
The bill was sent to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee.
Over in the U.S. House, U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Penn., is championing the companion bill with U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn., as the main co-sponsor. The bill was sent to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.
