Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act of 2025
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This law requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress within a year on esophageal cancer-related health care spending and screening rates under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
It responds to findings that esophageal cancer is rapidly increasing and often caught late, aiming to give lawmakers data on whether at-risk federal employees and retirees are being screened according to medical guidelines.
What this law does
What it does
The law directs the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report to Congress within one year of enactment evaluating two things: the total impact of esophageal cancer-related health care spending under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program for federal employees and retirees diagnosed with the disease, and how often FEHBP participants identified as high-risk for esophageal cancer actually undergo screening consistent with established medical guidelines. The law itself does not create new screening requirements, change insurance coverage, or appropriate funding. It is limited to commissioning a data-gathering and evaluation report, following a set of congressional findings on rising esophageal cancer rates and the value of early detection.
Key provisions
- 1Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress within one year on esophageal cancer-related health spending under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
- 2Requires the report to evaluate how often high-risk FEHBP participants undergo esophageal cancer screening according to established medical guidelines.
Who is affected
Federal employees and retirees enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, particularly those diagnosed with or at high risk for esophageal cancer, along with the Government Accountability Office, which must produce the report, and Congress, which will receive it.
Why it matters
The report could give Congress concrete data on health care costs and screening gaps affecting federal workers and retirees with esophageal cancer, potentially informing future legislation on screening guidelines or coverage. On its own, the law changes no benefits or screening practices for enrollees.
What changed
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Deadline for the GAO to submit its esophageal cancer report to Congress
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 3490 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025–2030 period, with no effect on direct spending, revenues, or the deficit.
H.R. 3490 would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to produce a report on esophageal cancer, including an evaluation of related health care spending under the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program and screening rates for high-risk enrollees. Based on the cost of similar reports, CBO estimates the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025–2030 period; that spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds (meaning Congress would need to separately approve the money). The bill has no effect on direct (mandatory) spending or revenues, and it would not increase deficits in any future 10-year period. CBO identified no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.
How it works
The Government Accountability Office, as the office of the Comptroller General, must compile and analyze data on FEHBP spending tied to esophageal cancer diagnoses and on screening rates among high-risk enrollees, drawing on medical records and program data. It must deliver its findings to Congress within one year of enactment. The law does not specify further agency rulemaking, funding, or enforcement mechanisms beyond this one-time reporting requirement.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Became Public Law No: 119-96.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on (1) the impact of esophageal cancer-related health care spending under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) for federal employees and retirees diagnosed with esophageal cancer, and (2) how often FEHBP participants with a high risk of esophageal cancer undergo screenings according to established guidelines.
Legislative subjects
Cancer; Government Operations and Politics; Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management; Government information and archives; Health care costs and insurance