Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act of 2025

This section gives the Act its official name: the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act.

This section lists findings that Congress states as facts; it does not create any new legal requirement on its own. Congress states that esophageal cancer is the fastest increasing cancer among American men and is one of the fastest growing cancer diagnoses among all Americans, having increased more than 700 percent in recent decades. It states that esophageal cancer kills one American every 36 minutes every day and is among the deadliest cancers, with only about 1 in 5 patients surviving 5 years. It states that the disease has tripled in incidence among younger Americans in recent decades and has low survival rates because it is usually found only at advanced stages, when treatment works less well. It states that raising awareness about esophageal cancer helps people seek preventive care, recognize symptoms, and pursue early detection. It states that survivors, caregivers, medical professionals, and researchers have made progress in advancing treatment options and improving quality of life for people affected by the disease. It states that esophageal cancer can be prevented through early detection of its precursor condition, Barrett's esophagus, which can be eliminated using curative outpatient techniques. It states that research shows patients diagnosed with early-stage esophageal cancer have a much higher 5-year survival rate, as high as 49 percent, compared with those diagnosed at later stages, showing a need for better screening and awareness. Finally, it states that as of December 2022, the American Gastroenterological Association recommends screening with a standard upper endoscopy for individuals who have 3 or more of the following established risk factors for Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma: male sex; non-Hispanic white ethnicity; age 50 or older; a history of smoking, chronic gastrointestinal reflux disease, or obesity; and a family history of Barrett's esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma.

This section would require the Comptroller General of the United States, who leads the Government Accountability Office, to submit a report to Congress no later than 1 year after the Act becomes law. The report must evaluate two things: first, the total impact of esophageal cancer-related health care spending under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program for federal employees and retirees who have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer; and second, how often individuals covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program whose medical records show they are high-risk for esophageal cancer actually undergo screening according to the established screening guidelines.