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S. 717: 21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act

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S. 717: 21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act

111th Congress · introduced 2009-03-26 · Health · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3906-3914)

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2009-03-26 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3906-3914) Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act

Plain summary

21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise provisions related to the National Cancer Program, including to require the establishment of an entity within the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to augment ongoing efforts to advance new technologies in cancer research, support the national collection of tissues for cancer research purposes, and ensure the quality of tissue collection. Sets forth provisions governing clinical trials, including ethical and privacy standards. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants for research on cancers with a low five-year survival rate and rare cancers. Expands coverage of colorectal screenings, including through providing grants and allowing states to provide coverage for such screenings under Medicaid. Provides for biomarkers research. Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to prohibit a group health plan from discriminating against participants and beneficiaries participating in cancer clinical trials. Sets forth provisions regarding retirement pay for nurses retiring from the Armed Forces. Requires the Secretary to study the current and future cancer care workforce needs. Prohibits the Secretary from awarding patient navigator grants unless entities provide assurances that patient navigators meet minimum core proficiencies. Provides for coverage under Medicare for payment of routine costs of care furnished to individuals participating in cancer clinical trials. Requires the Secretary to conduct a demonstration project under which payment for comprehensive cancer care planning services will be made under Medicare. Provides for coverage of tobacco cessation products. Provides for research on cancer survivorship related to childhood cancer and health disparities in outcomes. Requires the Secretary to convene a Workforce Development Collaborative on Psychosocial Care During Chronic Medical Illness.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA] · 21 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY), Mark R. Warner (D-VA)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong111-s717 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111