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Federal Public Policy Initiatives
Review some of FORCE's current legislative and regulatory policy priorities that impact the hereditary cancer community.

Policy Archive

EARLY Act Brings Young Breast Cancer to Forefront

Hereditary Cancer Awareness

The Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act of 2009 (EARLY Act), HR 1740, was introduced by Representative Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), a breast cancer survivor who carries a BRCA2 mutation. FORCE participated in a coalition of groups providing guidance on the proposed legislation.

EARLY Act logoPassed as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March 2010, the EARLY Act authorized a nationwide awareness and support campaign for women age 45 and under, including high-risk women, breast cancer survivors, and their doctors. The law also includes broad-reaching public and healthcare professional education campaigns, prevention research, and additional support for young women diagnosed with breast cancer. Initially funded for five years, the EARLY Act Reauthorization of 2014 was passed on December 28, 2014. 

Since that time, the initiative has brought about a number of programs including the CDC's Bring Your Brave Campaign and Program Support for Survivor Organizations—including the FORCE XRAY Program, among other activities.

News Briefs

4/7/2025 - Joined the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research and over 500 organizations in recommending at least $51.303 billion for NIH for FY2026, in addition to support for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, representing a 9.0% increase over the final FY2025 funding level.

03/26/2025 - Urged the Senate to protect Medicaid and other critical healthcare programs as it considers the budget reconciliation and potential program cuts.

03/17/2025 - Encouraged congressional leadership to prioritize patient-centered engagement as it crafts healthcare policies in the 119th Congress and ensure that patients don't face unintended consequences due to health policy changes.

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