June 4, 2025
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
To require the Government Accountability Office to produce a report on esophageal cancer, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds that—
(1)
esophageal cancer is the fastest increasing cancer among American men;
(2)
esophageal cancer is one of the fastest growing cancer diagnoses among all Americans, increasing more than 700 percent in recent decades;
(3)
esophageal cancer kills 1 American every 36 minutes every day;
(4)
esophageal cancer is among the deadliest of cancers, with only about 1 in 5 patients surviving 5 years;
(5)
esophageal cancer has tripled in incidence among younger Americans in recent decades;
(6)
esophageal cancer has low survival rates because it is usually discovered at advanced stages when treatment outcomes are poor;
(7)
raising awareness about esophageal cancer empowers individuals to seek preventive care, recognize symptoms, and pursue early detection strategies;
(8)
survivors, caregivers, medical professionals, and researchers have made tremendous strides in advancing treatment options and improving the quality of life for those affected by the disease;
(9)
esophageal cancer can be prevented through early detection of its precursor, Barrett’s esophagus, which can be eliminated with curative outpatient techniques;
(10)
research indicates that patients diagnosed with early-stage esophageal cancer have a significantly higher 5-year survival rate (as high as 49 percent) compared to those diagnosed at later stages, underscoring the critical need for enhanced screening and awareness; and
(11)
as of December 2022, the American Gastroenterological Association recommends screening with a standard upper endoscopy in individuals with 3 or more established risk factors for Barrett’s Esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma, including—
(A)
male sex;
(B)
non-Hispanic white ethnicity;
(C)
age of 50 years or older;
(D)
a history of smoking, chronic gastrointestinal reflux disease, or obesity; and
(E)
a family history of Barrett’s Esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Sec. 3. GAO report
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to Congress that includes an evaluation of—
(1)
the total impact of esophageal cancer-related health care spending under the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program for Federal employees and retirees diagnosed with esophageal cancer; and
(2)
how often individuals covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program with medical records indicating such individuals are high-risk for esophageal cancer undergo screening according to the established guidelines.