A resolution designating November 2025 as "National Lung Cancer Awareness Month" and expressing support for early detection and treatment of lung cancer.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 570 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 570

 Designating November 2025 as ``National Lung Cancer Awareness Month'' 
   and expressing support for early detection and treatment of lung 
                                cancer.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 18, 2025

  Ms. Smith (for herself, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Reed, and Mr. 
Merkley) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Designating November 2025 as ``National Lung Cancer Awareness Month'' 
   and expressing support for early detection and treatment of lung 
                                cancer.

Whereas lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among 
        individuals in the United States, accounting for more deaths than 
        colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer combined;
Whereas, in 2025, an estimated 226,650 individuals in the United States will be 
        diagnosed with lung cancer, and 124,730 individuals (approximately 340 
        individuals per day) will die from the disease;
Whereas 1 in 16 men and 1 in 17 women in the United States will develop lung 
        cancer during their lifetimes;
Whereas each year more women die from lung cancer than breast, ovarian, and 
        cervical cancer combined;
Whereas, in 2025, cigarette smoking directly caused approximately 109,100 of the 
        124,730 lung cancer deaths, and exposure to secondhand smoke causes over 
        7,300 lung cancer deaths each year in adults who do not smoke;
Whereas approximately 10 to 20 percent of lung cancer diagnoses occur in people 
        who have never smoked, and the proportion of lung cancer diagnoses in 
        individuals who have never smoked is increasing in the United States;
Whereas women who never smoked are more likely than men who never smoked to get 
        lung cancer;
Whereas Black men have the highest incidence of lung cancer and the highest 
        mortality rate from lung cancer in the United States, and nonwhite 
        individuals are 13 to 18 percent less likely to be diagnosed with lung 
        cancer early in their lives;
Whereas veterans are 25 percent more likely to develop lung cancer compared to 
        the general public, and although approximately 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 
        veterans have an elevated risk of lung cancer and are eligible for 
        screening, less than 3 percent of veterans get screened;
Whereas lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in veterans;
Whereas the 5-year survival rate is 67 percent for those diagnosed with 
        localized lung cancer and 12 percent for those diagnosed at a stage when 
        the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body;
Whereas the number of individuals in the United States recommended to receive 
        lung cancer screening was estimated to be 14,500,000 as of 2021;
Whereas only 16 percent of individuals in the United States at high risk for 
        lung cancer undergo lung cancer screening;
Whereas limited geographic availability of facilities and transportation 
        barriers are persistent challenges to lung cancer screening;
Whereas 62 percent of adults are not familiar with lung cancer screening and the 
        low-dose computed tomography scan;
Whereas the stigma surrounding lung cancer--

    (1) creates barriers to early diagnosis, treatment, and research; and

    (2) has a detrimental impact on the quality of life of lung cancer 
patients;

Whereas lung cancer research is leading to breakthroughs in biomarker 
        identification and the development of immunotherapies and targeted 
        therapies that are improving survival and quality of life for those with 
        lung cancer;
Whereas access to biomarker testing and cutting-edge diagnostics is challenging 
        across populations and geographic areas; and
Whereas educational efforts can increase awareness of lung cancer and lung 
        cancer screening among the general public, patients and their families, 
        and health care workers and increase the early detection of lung cancer: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates November 2025 as ``National Lung Cancer 
        Awareness Month'';
            (2) designates the first week of November 2025 as 
        ``National Women's Lung Cancer Awareness Week'';
            (3) designates the second Saturday of November 2025 as 
        ``National Lung Cancer Screening Day'';
            (4) supports the purposes and ideals of National Lung 
        Cancer Awareness Month;
            (5) promotes efforts to increase awareness of, education 
        about, and research on--
                    (A) mitigation of risk factors for lung cancer;
                    (B) lung cancer screening;
                    (C) treatment of lung cancer; and
                    (D) lung cancer affecting minorities and 
                individuals who have never smoked; and
            (6) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        National Lung Cancer Awareness Month with appropriate awareness 
        and educational activities.
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