Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act of 2025

[119th Congress Public Law 96]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

[[Page 140 STAT. 834]]

Public Law 119-96
119th Congress

                                 An Act

 To require the Government Accountability Office to produce a report on
esophageal cancer, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: June 9, 2026 -  [H.R.
                                3490]>>

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Gerald E.
Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act of 2025.>>
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

[[Page 140 STAT. 835]]

        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.

    Approved June 9, 2026.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 3490:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
                                                        Vol. 171 (2025):
                                    June 3, considered and passed House.
                                                        Vol. 172 (2026):
                                    May 20, considered and passed
                                        Senate.

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