[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6561 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6561
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a public
awareness campaign with respect to human papillomavirus, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 10, 2025
Ms. Castor of Florida (for herself, Mr. Bacon, and Ms. Schrier)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a public
awareness campaign with respect to human papillomavirus, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Resources to Expand
Vaccination, Education and New Treatments for HPV Cancers Act of 2025''
or the ``PREVENT HPV Cancers Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The human papillomavirus (referred to in this Act as
``HPV'') causes six different types of cancer (anal, cervical,
oropharynx, penile, vaginal, and vulvar).
(2) Approximately 39,300 cases of cancer are caused by HPV
each year impacting both women and men.
(3) About 91 percent of cervical and anal cancers are
thought to be caused by HPV.
(4) Black and Hispanic women are more likely to get HPV-
associated cervical cancer than women of other races and
ethnicities due to disparities in access to cancer screening
and early detection.
(5) New cases of cervical cancer decreased among women in
young age groups, likely due to HPV vaccination, but in recent
years, new cases of cervical cancer rates among women in older
age groups have plateaued or, in the case of women ages 30-34,
increased.
(6) Cervical cancer screening has declined and there has
been an increase in cervical cancer diagnosed at distant
stages, which are more difficult to treat and more likely to
recur, leading to greater morbidity and mortality.
(7) Approximately 70 percent of oropharyngeal cancer is
tied to HPV, and such cancers are more than twice as common in
men as in women.
(8) Most HPV infections that can lead to cancer can be
prevented by vaccines.
(9) HPV vaccines can also help prevent recurrent
respiratory papillomatosis, anal and genital warts.
(10) Vaccination for HPV is approved for men and women.
(11) The vaccines are most effective if administered when
an individual is between the ages of 9 and 12, but the vaccines
are licensed for men and women through age 45.
(12) Approximately 63 percent of adolescents have completed
the HPV vaccine series, a lower rate than other routine
recommended vaccinations.
(13) Adolescents living in rural areas continue to be less
likely to have initiated and completed the HPV vaccine series
than those living in urban areas.
(14) Health providers' recommendation of the vaccine is
critical to getting adolescents vaccinated.
SEC. 3. HPV CANCER PREVENTION PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.
(a) In General.--Section 317 of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 247b) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(o) HPV Cancer Prevention Public Awareness Campaign.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
shall carry out a national campaign to--
``(A) increase awareness of the importance of HPV
vaccination for preventing HPV-associated cancers;
``(B) combat misinformation about HPV vaccination;
and
``(C) increase HPV vaccination rates and completion
of the vaccine series.
``(2) Consultation.--In carrying out the national campaign
required by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with the
National Academy of Medicine, including health care providers
and public health associations, nonprofit organizations
(including those that represent communities most impacted by
HPV-associated cancers and communities with low vaccination
rates), State and local public health departments, elementary
and secondary education organizations (including student and
parent organizations), and institutions of higher education, to
solicit advice on evidence-based information for policy
development and program development, implementation, and
evaluation.
``(3) Requirements.--The national campaign required by
paragraph (1) shall--
``(A) include the use of evidence-based media and
public engagement;
``(B) be carried out through competitive grants or
cooperative agreements awarded to 1 or more nonprofit
entities with a history developing and implementing
similar campaigns;
``(C) include the development of culturally and
linguistically competent resources that shall be
tailored for--
``(i) communities with high rates of--
``(I) unvaccinated individuals,
including males;
``(II) individuals with high rates
of cervical cancer and other HPV-
associated cancers (such as Black and
Hispanic women); and
``(III) populations impacted by the
increase in oropharynx cancers,
including active-duty service members
and veterans;
``(ii) rural communities; and
``(iii) such other communities as the
Secretary determines appropriate;
``(D) include the dissemination of HPV vaccination
information and communication resources to health care
providers and health care facilities (including primary
care providers, community health centers, dentists,
obstetricians, and gynecologists), and such providers
and such facilities for pediatric care, State and local
public health departments, elementary and secondary
schools, and colleges and universities;
``(E) be complementary to, and coordinated with,
any other Federal efforts with respect to--
``(i) HPV vaccination; and
``(ii) screening for HPV-associated
cancers, including self-collection methods;
``(F) include message testing to identify
culturally competent and effective messages for
behavioral change; and
``(G) include the award of grants or cooperative
agreements to State, local, and Tribal public health
departments--
``(i) to engage with communities specified
in subparagraph (C), local education agencies,
health care providers, community organizations,
or other groups the Secretary determines are
appropriate to develop and deliver effective
strategies to increase HPV vaccination rates;
and
``(ii) to disseminate culturally and
linguistically competent resources on the
National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early
Detection Program and where an individual can
access the screenings locally.
``(4) Options for dissemination of information.--The
national campaign required by paragraph (1) may--
``(A) include the use of--
``(i) social media, television, radio,
print, the internet, and other media;
``(ii) in person or virtual public
communications; and
``(iii) recognized, trusted figures;
``(B) be targeted to specific groups and
communities specified in paragraph (3)(C); and
``(C) include the dissemination of information
highlighting each of the following:
``(i) Recommended age range to get the HPV
vaccine.
``(ii) The benefits of getting vaccinated
against HPV, including the potential to not
acquire HPV-associated cancers.
``(iii) HPV vaccine safety and the systems
in place to monitor such safety.
``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $5,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.''.
(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than September 30, 2027, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the Senate a report--
(1) that contains a qualitative assessment of the campaign
under subsection (o) of section 317 of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b), as added by subsection (a), and
the activities conducted under such campaign; and
(2) on, with respect to the impact on cancer associated
with human papillomavirus, the activities conducted under such
subsection (o).
SEC. 4. BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER EARLY DETECTION PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 1510(a) of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 300n-5(a)) is amended by striking ``and $275,000,000 for
fiscal year 2012'' and inserting ``$275,000,000 for fiscal year 2012,
and $300,000,000 for each fiscal years 2026 through 2030''.
(b) Coordinating Committee.--Section 1501(d) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300k(d)) is amended--
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``2020'' and
inserting ``2030''; and
(2) by striking ``2020'' and inserting ``2030''.
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