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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. 

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and colleagues reintroduced the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act to promote increased exploration into the prevention and management of lung cancer among women, with a specific focus on non-smokers.

• “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.” – Senator Rubio

• “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.” – Senator Feinstein

U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) are also original cosponsors.

• “Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the country, with West Virginia having one of the highest rates of lung cancer deaths. However, we lack the knowledge to properly combat this terrible disease. I am proud to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation to help researchers learn more about lung cancer and its effect on women while also working to identify new research opportunities for prevention and treatment. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense legislation to save lives and bring us closer to finding a cure.”– Senator Manchin

• “This legislation will help us better understand and address lung cancer’s impact on women by investing in comprehensive and targeted research that improves preventative care and treatment. In the fight to end lung cancer, we must remedy current research shortcomings for women and embrace inclusive health care solutions.”– Senator Padilla
  

• “Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women in the United States. Cases are increasing and we need to better understand why. This bill would help support new research, raise public awareness, and advance lung cancer treatments, screenings and diagnosis. I’ll continue to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make progress in the fight against cancer.” – Senator Smith
  

• “Lung cancer kills more women than any other cancer. This bipartisan bill puts greater resources towards the prevention, detection, and treatment of lung cancer, focusing specifically on non-smokers – a comprehensive approach to this devastating and deadly disease.” – Senator Blumenthal

• “As a state, West Virginia is disproportionately impacted by lung cancer. While our numbers have improved in recent years, we must continue to expand both preventive efforts, as well as management. I’m proud to join my colleagues to reintroduce legislation that will work to improve treatment and prevention of lung cancer in women.” – Senator Capito

U.S. Representatives Brendan Boyle (D-PA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced companion legislation in the House.

This legislation is supported by GO2 for Lung Cancer.

• “For decades investment in research to understand lung cancer’s unique impact on women has lagged, resulting in poor health and economic outcomes for women, their families and the nation. There are sex differences in many facets of the disease, including risk factors, clinical characteristics, progression and length of survival.  A better understanding of the role these factors play can advance preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic practice is critical to improving outcomes for women and men impacted by the leading cause of cancer death.  Enacting this legislation gives us the opportunity to change this trajectory now.” – Laurie Fenton Ambrose, President & CEO of GO2 for Lung Cancer

Want more information?

• March 2021:Rubio and Colleagues Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation to Promote Women’s Lung Cancer Research