Rep. Sewell Welcomes Cancer Advocates to Washington, Urges Passage of the Nancy Gardner Sewell Multi-Cancer Early Detection Act

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) spoke on the House Floor to welcome cancer advocates from across the nation to Washington for their annual advocacy day and urged passage of her legislation, H.R. 842, the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act.

Watch it on YouTube here.

Today, more than 700 cancer advocates from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), representing every state and all 435 congressional districts, will meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to raise awareness of the urgent need for policies that improve cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and patient support.

Rep. Sewell is proud to be leading legislation to ensure access to cutting-edge early detection cancer screenings for our nation's seniors. H.R. 842, the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, would create a pathway for Medicare to cover emerging diagnostic tools, once FDA-approved, which hold the promise of screening for up to 40 cancers with a simple blood test.

H.R. 842 enjoys robust bipartisan support, with more than 295 House co-sponsors and 62 Senate co-sponsors. It is supported by more than 600 patient advocate organizations across the nation and is among the top legislative priorities of ACS CAN.

In the 118^th Congress, the bill's lead Republican sponsor, Rep. Jodey Arrington (TX-19), renamed the bill in honor of Rep. Sewell's late mother, Nancy Gardner Sewell, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in June 2021. Today is Nancy Gardner Sewell's 86^th birthday.

Rep. Sewell's remarks are transcribed below.

Rep. Sewell: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome to our nation's capital patient advocates from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network for their annual fly-in!

This week, 700 advocates representing every state and all 435 congressional delegations and districts will be raising awareness of the urgent need for policies that improve cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and patient support. It is truly an honor to have these advocates with us this week sharing their stories of resilience, loss, determination, and hope.

Like so many of these advocates, I know firsthand the impact cancer can have on families. On June 10, 2021, I lost my beloved mother, Nancy Gardner Sewell, to pancreatic cancer. And like so many patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, my mother's cancer was not detected until 'Stage 4' and therefore was not treatable.

Tragically, cancer took her life only eight weeks after her diagnosis. It was a shock to our entire family, the lingering effects of which I feel every day.

In an effort to turn my pain into passion, I made a commitment to do all that I could to prevent other families from experiencing such a painful loss. That's why I am proud to be leading legislation alongside my Republican colleague, Congressman Jodey Arrington of Texas, to expand access to early detection cancer screenings. Our bill, the Nancy Gardner Sewell Multi-Cancer Early Detection Act, would create a pathway for Medicare to cover emerging blood tests, once FDA-approved, which hold the promise of screening for up to 40 types of cancer with a simple blood draw.

When it comes to cancer, we know that early detection is our best protection, and that's exactly what this bill will do. It will ensure that those who are most at risk of catching cancer early and stopping it before it spreads.

Thanks to the advocacy of the American Cancer Society and their partners, our bill has bipartisan support-295 House members and 62 Senators have cosponsored it.

Last Congress, Jodey surprised me by renaming the legislation in honor of my late mother-Nancy Gardner Sewell of Selma, Alabama, who passed away in 2021 from pancreatic cancer.

Who was she? My mom was a devout Christian who lived a life of faith, an exemplary educator, a librarian, media specialist. She served the Selma Public School System for 36 years, where she shaped minds and uplifted children. As a librarian, she was a strong advocate for reading, initiating the Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program in 1973, delivering books to children throughout Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, a program that still serves children in Selma-Dallas County and Alabama's rural Black Belt today.

Nancy Sewell was a trailblazing civic leader. She became the first African American woman elected to Selma's City Council and served as an inspirational role model for women in politics.

Her favorite saying was "bloom where you're planted." You can make a difference right where you are. And she made a big difference in the lives of so many people that she touched.

Again, I want to thank the American Cancer Society and their more than 700 supporters for honoring my mother on this day of advocacy, today, her birthday.

I urge all of my colleagues to join us in this important effort. Let's pass H.R. 842, the Multi-Cancer Early Detection Act, and pave the way for a world without cancer.

###