WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) reintroduced the bipartisan Stephanie Tubbs Jones Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act, legislation that would expand research and raise awareness through public education programs to support women suffering from uterine fibroids. The legislation is named after the late U.S. Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio, who championed this issue. U.S. Representatives Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and Robin Kelly (D-IL) introduced the bill in the House.
“Millions of Americans, especially Black women, are living with uterine fibroids and suffering from its devastating health impacts,” said Senator Booker. “We must continue raising awareness and investing in diagnostic and treatment options to alleviate the burden of uterine fibroids. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this important legislation that will expand research efforts, improve public awareness, and promote evidence-based care for uterine fibroids. We must empower women with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisions about their health.”
“I’m proud to join with Senator Booker to both honor a champion of this issue and help prevent, diagnose, and treat uterine fibroids for future generations of women,” said Senator Capito. “Millions of women are affected by uterine fibroids, which often go undiagnosed and can have significant health consequences in both the short and long term. Making investments in research and education efforts is a critical step in supporting individuals who suffer from this condition across our country.”
“In a nation where approximately 25 percent of all Black women will suffer from uterine fibroids before their 25th birthday, there exists a glaring, tragic health inequity that must be addressed,” said Representative Clarke. “Fibroids have ravaged the lives of women — particularly in the Black community — across the country, and increasing funding for research and public education related to fibroids is critical to reversing this devastating trend. The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act is an important step towards prioritizing women’s healthcare with the urgency it warrants.”
“Black women are more likely to be at risk of uterine fibroids and suffer from complications that affect their everyday lives,” said Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman. “These burdens contribute to greater overall lifetime stress, decreasing the quality of life. Fibroids are a public health issue, and I join my colleagues in advancing legislation that provides resources to relieve this suffering for women and girls everywhere.”
“An estimated 26 million people in the United States suffer from uterine fibroids. Symptoms can be debilitating, and diagnosis and treatment is often difficult to access and can impact fertility. I’m proud to support this legislation to better understand uterine fibroids and develop more effective treatments. This research is especially important for Black women, who are three times more likely than other groups to develop uterine fibroids. This bill will establish funding to increase research and awareness of uterine fibroids, and to improve access to treatment options for those suffering from uterine fibroids,” said Representative Robin Kelly.
July marks Fibroid Awareness Month, an opportunity to raise awareness for uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous growths of the uterus that impact an estimated 26 million women nationwide. Symptoms of this devastating condition include severe menstrual bleeding, anemia, pregnancy complications and loss, and infertility.
In addition to the pain and discomfort they cause, uterine fibroids cost the health care system an estimated $5.9 billion to $34.4 billion every year. Despite their prevalence and impact, preventing, diagnosing, and treating uterine fibroids is very difficult. This condition often goes undiagnosed, and even when it is accurately diagnosed, treatment is usually invasive and can lead to infertility. Black women are particularly impacted by this condition as they tend to develop uterine fibroids earlier, have larger and a greater number of fibroids, and have more severe symptoms and complications.
Specifically, the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act would:
- Expand and intensify research on uterine fibroids and authorize $30 million a year for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 for that effort.
- Require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to collect data on services provided to people diagnosed with uterine fibroids under Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
- Create a public education program for uterine fibroids.
- Promote evidence-based care for uterine fibroids among health care providers.
The full text of the legislation can be found here.