CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE AUTHORS LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN RESOURCES FOR EARLY DETECTION OF CANCER

(Washington, D.C.)—Today, Congressman Joe Morelle announced the introduction of legislation he authored to bolster screening services for breast cancer and cervical cancer, making it easier for vulnerable populations to get the preemptive care they need. The Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS) for Cancer Act would reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) through 2030, helping make screening services more accessible to more people.

"Cancer has touched my family in the most personal way, and I know firsthand the fear and uncertainty that comes with a diagnosis,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “Far too many people—especially those in underserved communities—face barriers to lifesaving screenings that could catch cancer early and save lives. Building on the Wilmot Cancer Institute’s recent designation by NCI, the SCREENS for Cancer Act will expand access to breast and cervical cancer screenings, helping more people get the care they need and ensuring no one is left behind in the fight against cancer."

As of 2025, the NBCCEDP has provided over 16.5 million screenings, diagnosing nearly 80,000 invasive breast cancers and 5,300 invasive cervical cancers, saving countless lives. In 2025 alone, an estimated 319,750 new breast cancer cases and 13,360 cervical cancer cases are expected in the U.S., as well as nearly 43,000 breast cancer deaths and over 4,300 cervical cancer deaths.

Last week, NCI named the Wilmot Cancer Institute the United States’ 73^rd designation cancer center—placing it in the top four percent of all cancer centers nationwide. This designation is a tremendous step forward for Rochester and the entire Finger Lakes region, ensuring more people have access to the care they need and deserve.

In keeping with Congressman Morelle’s long-standing goal to end cancer as we know it, the SCREENS for Cancer Act would:

• Reauthorize and expand funding for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) through 2030, allocating $235 million per year.
• Improve access to screenings by enhancing outreach, patient navigation, and follow-up care for low-income, uninsured, and underserved communities.
• Implement evidence-based strategies to increase screening rates, reduce disparities, and improve early detection efforts.
• Mandate a GAO study to assess program effectiveness, service utilization trends, and barriers to screening access by 2027.
• Modernize program language and priorities to emphasize prevention, detection, and control of breast and cervical cancer.

Congressman Morelle has been a long-standing advocate for affordable, accessible healthcare for all. Learn more about the SCREENS for Cancer Act here and learn more about Congressman Morelle’s continued work on healthcare policy here.

###