Women’s lung cancer bill moves to final text step

The U.S. Senate has passed legislation directing a federal review of research on lung cancer in women and underserved populations.

S. 1157, the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2025, passed the Senate on June 8. The House passed companion legislation, H.R. 2319, in April.

The legislation is not yet law. ACR said the House and Senate must agree on final language before the measure can be sent to the president for signature.

Both versions call for a comprehensive review led by the Department of Health and Human Services in coordination with the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. The review would evaluate current research, identify unmet needs, and lead to a report to Congress.

The Senate-passed version goes further than the House version, according to ACR. It would also allow HHS to update federal programs and activities related to lung cancer in women based on the review’s findings.

Radiology and thoracic care groups supported the legislation after Senate passage. A June 11 coalition letter included ACR, the American College of Chest Physicians, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, GO2 for Lung Cancer, and other organizations.

“Such research is urgently needed,” the coalition wrote.

Sen. Tina Smith, D-MN, and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV, sponsored the Senate bill. Reps. Brendan Boyle, D-PA, and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-PA, led the House version.

Smith and Capito said the legislation responds to rising concern about lung cancer among women, including cases among women without traditional smoking-related risk factors. Their June 10 statement said lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death for women in the U.S. and claims more women’s lives each year than breast, ovarian, and cervical cancers combined.

ACR said the bill is intended to address longstanding gaps in knowledge about lung cancer among women and could help physicians deliver more effective care.

A Congressional Budget Office estimate for the House version said implementation would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025-2030 period, with spending subject to the availability of appropriated funds.