Bill

S 4717

Asal Sayas National Strategy on Young Adult Cancers Act

119th Congress Introduced by Amy Klobuchar and 1 co-sponsor

Creates a federally coordinated national strategy and online hub to improve prevention, detection, treatment, and support for cancers in people aged 18–49.

Introduced in Senate

WeVote Research Nonpartisan

Bill Summary · S 4717

Summary of Bill S.4717 (Asal Sayas National Strategy on Young Adult Cancers Act)

Purpose and intent
- To amend the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop and submit a national strategy addressing young adult cancers, defined as cancers affecting individuals aged 18 to 49.
- Aims to improve understanding, prevention, early detection, treatment, access to care, and support for young adults with cancer, as well as to coordinate federal efforts and provide public resources.
Key provisions and changes

1) Establishment of a national strategy
- Within 18 months after enactment, the NIH Director must develop and submit a comprehensive national strategy on young adult cancers.
- The strategy must be posted on NIH and a federal clearinghouse website.

2) Required components of the strategy (Section 402(p))
- Inventory: Catalog current NIH and other federal programs, initiatives, and services related to young adult cancers.
- Public and professional education campaign:
- Develop culturally relevant priorities and objectives.
- Educate the general public about symptoms and risk factors.
- Educate primary care, emergency, obstetrics/gynecology, pulmonary, and gastroenterology professionals on signs, symptoms, and risk factors for leading young adult cancers.
- Strategic research priorities:
- Assess the scope of young adult cancer research (basic, clinical, epidemiologic, translational).
- Set priorities to improve diagnosis, treatment, cure, and prevention.
- Address access to care and identify knowledge gaps and emerging opportunities, including biomarker and targeted therapy development.
- Burden assessment and economic considerations:
- Analyze disease burden by cancer type and sociodemographic groups.
- Consider potential economic returns from research and prevention efforts (lives saved, productivity, reduced costs).
- Focus areas and barriers:
- Examine disparities by sex, race/ethnicity, veteran status, disability, occupation-related risk, tribal/rural/medically underserved populations.
- Identify barriers to clinical trial participation.
- Address special needs of non-pediatric young adults (fertility preservation, mental health, employment) and psychosocial support for patients and caregivers.
- Collaboration and use of existing resources:
- Propose coordination with federal departments/agencies and the private sector.
- Describe opportunities for leveraging existing federal data, resources, and guidance.
- Federal clearinghouse:
- Create an online hub providing risk factors, symptoms, screening information, research findings, funding opportunities, and clinical guidelines.

3) Federal Coordinating Committee on Young Adult Cancers (Section 402(p)(3))
- A Federal Coordinating Committee will be established to advise on the strategy and provide progress updates to Congress at least every two years.
- Membership includes senior NIH leadership (notably the NIH Director and heads of multiple NIH institutes), federal agency heads (e.g., HHS agencies, CDC, CMS, FDA, VA, DoD health affairs, etc.), and representatives from patient advocacy groups, academic researchers, industry, community health institutions, and other stakeholders as determined by the NIH Director.
- The committee is designed to facilitate interagency coordination and public-private collaboration.

4) Definitions and scope
- Young adult: defined as individuals aged 18 through 49.
- Relevant committees of Congress: specified for reporting and oversight (Senate HELP, Senate Finance, Senate Appropriations, House Energy and Commerce, House Ways and Means, House Appropriations).

Who would be affected
- NIH and other federal health agencies would implement and coordinate the strategy.
- Health care professionals across primary care, emergency medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pulmonary, and gastroenterology fields would receive new education materials and guidance.
- Researchers across biomedical, behavioral, and environmental research would be guided by identified priorities.
- Young adults with cancer, survivors, and caregivers could expect improved access to care, fertility and mental health support, and improved psychosocial resources.
- Public health educators and health systems could utilize the online clearinghouse for information and guidelines.
- Clinicians and researchers would have enhanced opportunities to participate in clinical trials, with potential governance changes to facilitate trials.
Procedural and timeline details
- Enactment date presumed near 2026 ( bill introduced June 9, 2026).
- NIH Director must develop and submit the national strategy within 18 months of enactment.
- The strategy must be posted publicly on NIH websites and the clearinghouse site.
- A Federal Coordinating Committee on Young Adult Cancers will operate to advise and report progress to Congress at least biennially.
- The bill outlines detailed membership for the coordinating committee, spanning NIH institutes, federal agencies, and non-governmental stakeholders.
Practical impact
- Creates a formal, federally coordinated framework focused specifically on young adult cancers.
- Elevates attention to under-addressed age group with distinct risk profiles, presentation patterns, and psychosocial needs.
- Encourages integrated education campaigns, cross-agency collaboration, and accelerated identification of risk factors and biomarkers.
- Establishes a centralized information hub, potentially improving awareness, screening advocacy, and trial enrollment.