PREVENT HPV Cancers Act of 2025

Summary of HR 6561 (PREVENT HPV Cancers Act of 2025)

Purpose and intent

• The bill aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a national public awareness campaign focused on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, debunk misinformation, and boost vaccination rates. It is titled the Promoting Resources to Expand Vaccination, Education and New Treatments for HPV Cancers Act of 2025 (PREVENT HPV Cancers Act of 2025).
• It also makes adjustments related to funding for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCPEDP).

Key provisions

1) HPV cancer public awareness campaign

• Amends Section 317 of the Public Health Service Act to create an HPV Cancer Prevention Public Awareness Campaign.
• The campaign, run by the Secretary through the CDC Director, must:
  • Increase awareness of the importance of HPV vaccination for preventing HPV-associated cancers.
  • Combat misinformation about HPV vaccination.
  • Increase HPV vaccination rates and completion of the vaccine series.
• Coordination and consultation:
  • The Secretary must consult with the National Academy of Medicine, health care providers and public health associations, nonprofit organizations (including groups representing communities heavily affected by HPV cancers and areas with low vaccination rates), state and local public health departments, education organizations (including student and parent groups), and institutions of higher education.
  • The consultation is to inform policy development, program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Campaign requirements:
  • Use evidence-based media and public engagement.
  • Operate through competitive grants or cooperative agreements to one or more nonprofit entities with experience in similar campaigns.
  • Develop culturally and linguistically appropriate resources tailored to:
  • Communities with high rates of unvaccinated individuals (including males), communities with high cervical cancer/HPV-associated cancer rates (e.g., Black and Hispanic women), populations affected by increasing oropharyngeal cancers (including active-duty service members and veterans), rural communities, and other appropriate communities.
  • Disseminate HPV vaccination information to health care providers and facilities (primary care, community health centers, dentists, obstetricians, gynecologists), pediatric care providers, and public health departments; align with other federal HPV vaccination and cancer screening efforts (including self-collection for screening where appropriate).
  • Include message testing to identify culturally competent, effective messages for behavioral change.
  • Provide grants or cooperative agreements to State, local, and Tribal public health departments to:
  • Engage with targeted communities, schools, healthcare providers, and community groups to develop and deliver strategies to increase vaccination.
  • Disseminate culturally and linguistically competent resources related to the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and local access to screenings.
  • Dissemination options include social media, TV, radio, print, internet, in-person/virtual public engagement, and leveraging trusted figures.
  • Targeted messaging to cover:
  • Recommended HPV vaccine age range.
  • Benefits of vaccination and cancer prevention potential.
  • HPV vaccine safety and monitoring systems.
• Funding:
  • Authorization of appropriations of $5,000,000 for each fiscal year 2026 through 2030 to carry out this subsection.

2) Reporting

• By September 30, 2027, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must report to Congress (House Energy and Commerce Committee and Senate HELP Committee) on:
  • A qualitative assessment of the campaign and its activities.
  • The impact of the activities on cancers associated with HPV.

3) Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program adjustments

• Section 1510(a) of the Public Health Service Act is amended to adjust funding:
  • Adds $300,000,000 for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 (in addition to the existing $275,000,000 for fiscal year 2012, effectively increasing the ongoing commitment for the program through 2030).
• Section 1501(d) coordinating committee reference is updated to reflect the year 2030 (changing the target year in headings and text from 2020 to 2030).

Who would be affected

• Populations at higher risk or with lower vaccination rates, including:
  • Black and Hispanic women (disproportionate burden of HPV-associated cervical cancer).
  • Rural communities and populations with historically low vaccination uptake.
  • Men and boys (vaccine is approved for all genders; emphasis on increasing male vaccination).
  • Active-duty service members and veterans (as part of the focus on oropharyngeal cancers).
• Health care providers, school systems, public health departments, community organizations, and tribes/tribal public health entities, which would engage with campaign activities and grant-funded initiatives.

Procedural and timeline aspects

• Introduced December 10, 2025; referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• Authorized funding spans fiscal years 2026–2030 for the HPV public awareness campaign.
• A required congressional report is due by September 30, 2027.
• Also modifies BC reception funding through 2030 and aligns coordinating committee references accordingly.

Overall impact

• A centralized, federally funded public awareness effort to promote HPV vaccination, counter misinformation, and boost vaccination rates, with emphasis on culturally competent outreach and partnerships across government, healthcare, education, and community organizations.
• Potential long-term effects include higher HPV vaccination coverage, reduced incidence of HPV-related cancers, and strengthened integration between vaccination messaging and cancer screening efforts.