To provide for programs to increase the awareness and knowledge of women and health care providers with respect to gynecologic cancers.

June 6, 2005

Mr. SPECTER (for himself, Mr. HARKIN, Mrs. CLINTON, Mr. OBAMA, and Mrs. BOXER) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

To provide for programs to increase the awareness and knowledge of women and health care providers with respect to gynecologic cancers.

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 `Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act of 2005' or `Johanna's Law'.

SEC. 2. CERTAIN PROGRAMS REGARDING GYNECOLOGIC CANCERS.

(a) National Public Awareness Campaign-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the `Secretary') shall carry out a national campaign to increase the awareness and knowledge of women with respect to gynecologic cancers.

(2) WRITTEN MATERIALS- Activities under the national campaign under paragraph (1) shall include--

(A) maintaining a supply of written materials that provide information to the public on gynecologic cancers; and

(B) distributing the materials to members of the public upon request.

(3) PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS- Activities under the national campaign under paragraph (1) shall, in accordance with applicable law and regulations, include developing and placing, in telecommunications media, public service announcements intended to encourage women to discuss with their physicians their risks of gynecologic cancers. Such announcement shall inform the public on the manner in which the written materials referred to in paragraph (2) can be obtained upon request, and shall call attention to early warning signs and risk factors based on the best available medical information.

(b) Demonstration Projects Regarding Outreach and Education Strategies-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall carry out a program to make grants to nonprofit private entities for the purpose of testing different outreach and education strategies to increase the awareness and knowledge of women and health care providers with respect to gynecologic cancers, including early warning signs and treatment options. Such strategies shall include strategies directed at physicians, nurses, and key health professionals and families.

(2) PREFERENCES IN MAKING GRANTS- In making grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give preference--

(A) to applicants with demonstrated expertise in gynecologic cancer education or treatment or in working with groups of women who are at especially high risk of gynecologic cancers; and

(B) to applicants that, in the demonstration project under the grant, will establish linkages between physicians, nurses, and key health professionals, hospitals, payers, and State health departments.

(3) APPLICATION FOR GRANT- A grant may be made under paragraph (1) only if an application for the grant is submitted to the Secretary and the application is in such form, is made in such manner, and contains such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this subsection.

(4) CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS- In making grants under paragraph (1)--

(A) the Secretary shall make grants to not fewer than five applicants, subject to the extent of amounts made available in appropriations Acts; and

(B) the Secretary shall ensure that information provided through demonstration projects under such grants is consistent with the best available medical information.

(5) REPORT TO CONGRESS- Not later than February 1, 2009, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report that--

(A) summarizes the activities of demonstration projects under paragraph (1);

(B) evaluates the extent to which the projects were effective in increasing early detection of gynecologic cancers and awareness of risk factors and early warning signs in the populations to which the projects were directed; and

(C) identifies barriers to early detection and appropriate treatment of such cancers.

(c) Funding-

(1) NATIONAL PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN- For the purpose of carrying out subsection (a), there is authorized to be appropriated in the aggregate $15,000,000 for the fiscal years 2006 through 2008.

(2) DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS REGARDING OUTREACH AND EDUCATION STRATEGIES-

(A) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- For the purpose of carrying out subsection (b), there is authorized to be appropriated in the aggregate $30,000,000 for the fiscal years 2006 through 2008.

(B) ADMINISTRATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND EVALUATION- Of the amounts appropriated under subparagraph (A), not more than 9 percent may be expended for the purpose of administering subsection (b), providing technical assistance to grantees under such subsection, and preparing the report under paragraph (5) of such subsection.

END