WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Co-Chair of the House Cancer Caucus, along with Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), and Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and continue funding for the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act—a proven, life-saving initiative that promotes early detection and education for young and high-risk women.
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women, with over 316,000 new cases and 42,000 projected deaths in 2025. Younger women and women of color are too often diagnosed late—when options are limited and outcomes are worse.
The EARLY Act takes a proactive approach, funding CDC-led education, outreach, and provider training to close detection gaps, empower early action, and save lives.
“In my work with hospitals and health leaders across PA-1, one fact remains clear: early detection is the most effective tool we have to reduce cancer mortality. As Co-Chair of the House Cancer Caucus, I’ve worked to expand access to screening, education, and risk-based interventions. The EARLY Act is targeted, data-driven policy—built to close detection gaps, reach high-risk populations sooner, and reduce the number of women diagnosed too late. That’s how we save lives—and that’s the standard every public health initiative should meet,” said Fitzpatrick.
Originally enacted in 2010, the EARLY Act has driven national progress in breast cancer awareness and prevention. Its three core programs include:
- The Bring Your Brave campaign, which uses real stories to increase awareness among women aged 18–44 about breast cancer risk factors, symptoms, and early detection.
- The Young Breast Cancer Survivors Program,* which supports nonprofit organizations providing services to young patients and survivors.
- Continuing medical education (CME) for health care providers to improve early detection and care for young women at increased risk.
“Like so many women in the United States, I heard those devastating words no one wants to hear: ‘you have breast cancer.’ My personal experience battling this terrible disease led to the creation of the EARLY Act, which was designed to help educate women and their health care providers about the specific threats and warning signs of breast cancer in younger women that lead to early detection, diagnosis, and survival,” said Wasserman Schultz, who was diagnosed with breast cancer and the BRCA2 gene mutation at age 41 and after 15 months of surgery, has been cancer free for 17 years. “Reauthorizing the EARLY Act means that we will continue the vital work of educating young and higher risk women about their breast health and do everything we can to save more lives.”
“As a physician, I’ve seen firsthand how devastating a breast cancer diagnosis can be, and I’ve also seen how early detection can save a life,” said Dr. Miller-Meeks. “Too many young women, especially those at higher risk, are being left in the dark. The EARLY Act changes that. It empowers women with the knowledge they need to detect cancer sooner, fight harder, and live longer. I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan effort to protect women, strengthen families, and save lives.”
“Far too many young women face breast cancer without the knowledge or support they need to fight back,” said Castor. “For 15 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has used the EARLY Act to ensure these young women aren’t alone by supporting outreach and resources that meet them where they are. I’m proud to support this bipartisan reauthorization to ensure the continuation of these critical initiatives that empower women to understand their risks, advocate for their health and get the tools they need to fight the disease.”
“There’s no question that early diagnosis saves lives, and the earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the better for patient outcomes. With rates of breast cancer rising, especially among younger women, it’s critical we redouble our efforts to raise awareness about early screening and detection – and it’s critical these efforts focus on high-risk populations,” said Dingell. “I’m proud to co-lead this reauthorization and remain committed to ensuring we secure federal funding for continued cancer research and education.”
“I’ve seen firsthand the power of early education and prevention in the fight against breast cancer. Too many women, especially those in high-risk and underserved communities, are still being diagnosed too late. The EARLY Act has proven effective in closing that gap by giving young women the tools and information they need to understand their risk, recognize early warning signs, and take action,” said Harshbarger. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in reauthorizing this life-saving program that can save women’s lives.”
After fifteen years of successful implementation, it is now time to again reauthorize the EARLY Act to ensure that it continues to reach even more young and higher risk women across the United States. Reauthorizing the EARLY Act is vital to continuing to save women’s lives.
Click here to read the full bill.
The EARLY Act is endorsed by over 20 leading organizations including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Susan G. Komen, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Sharsheret, Brem Foundation, Prevent Cancer Foundation.
"Reauthorizing the EARLY Act is critical to protecting the lives of young and high-risk women nationwide," said Lisa A. Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). ""This legislation ensures that individuals and their health care providers have access to essential programs that offer the tools, education, and support needed to better understand breast health and detect cancer risks early—when it matters most. ACS CAN is grateful to Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) along with Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) for their bipartisan leadership on this life-saving effort. Without swift action, we risk losing a vital resource in the fight against breast cancer."
"The Prevent Cancer Foundation proudly supports the reauthorization of the EARLY Act, which has been vital in helping young women — especially those at increased risk for breast cancer — and their health care providers understand the importance of breast health. We applaud Reps. Wasserman Schultz, Castor, Dingell, Miller-Meeks, Harshbarger and Fitzpatrick for championing this critical effort to advance awareness and early detection of breast cancer for better health outcomes." Jody Hoyos, CEO Prevent Cancer Foundation
"The evidence is clear - early detection of breast cancer saves lives. Over 95 percent of women who receive an early diagnosis can see high rates of survival with treatment. That number drops to 30 percent when breast cancer is caught at later stages. Yet, younger women - aged 25 to 40 - are diagnosed with more aggressive cancers at significantly higher percentages than women at average risk. Brem Foundation applauds reintroduction of the EARLY Act, which educates young women, helps identify who is at higher risk for early breast cancers, and helps to drive self advocacy in breast health. Simply put, this bill will save lives." Dr. Rachel Brem, Chief Medical Officer Brem Foundation & Professor and Vice-Chair, GW Cancer Center
“This legislation plays a critical role in educating patients and healthcare professionals about breast cancer risks, early detection, and prevention—particularly among younger women and underserved populations," said Emily Hansen, senior director of Resensation by Axogen. "Continued investment in awareness, education, and innovation is essential to ensuring more informed, empowered care decisions that will lead to better outcomes."
“The Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act is a critical step forward in empowering young and high-risk women with the knowledge they need to take control of their breast health. Early education saves lives by ensuring women and their healthcare providers are informed about risks, prevention, and proactive care options. At BRCAStrong, we believe knowledge is power and this legislation embodies that belief by helping to close gaps in awareness and ultimately reduce breast cancer’s impact on our community.” Tracy Milgram, Founder of BRCAStrong.
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