04-09-2025

Cancer Control Month, 2025

ProclamationView the Original .pdf
View the Original .pdf

The 1-Minute Brief

What: This proclamation by President Donald J. Trump designates April 2025 as Cancer Control Month. It honors cancer patients and survivors, remembers those lost to the disease, and highlights the administration's commitment to fighting cancer through new medical advancements, innovative treatments, and preventative measures.

Money: As a presidential proclamation, there is no direct financial impact, CBO score, or appropriation of funds associated with this document. It serves as a declaration and a call to action.

Your Impact: The proclamation encourages Americans to take preventative measures, such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle and undergoing regular screenings, which could lead to earlier cancer detection and better health outcomes.

Status: This proclamation was issued by the President of the United States on April 3, 2025, and is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register.

What's Actually in the Bill

This presidential proclamation officially designates April 2025 as "Cancer Control Month." The document serves to raise national awareness about cancer, honor those affected by it, and outline the administration's approach to combating the disease.

Core Provisions:

  • Official Designation: Declares April 2025 as Cancer Control Month.
  • Call to Action for Citizens: Urges Americans to adopt healthier lifestyles, including balanced eating habits, regular physical activity, and avoidance of tobacco and alcohol, to help prevent cancer. It also encourages discussions with doctors about family medical history and recommended screenings.
  • Administration's Commitments: Highlights the establishment of the "Make America Healthy Again Commission" to address chronic diseases. It also mentions efforts to lower healthcare costs, expand treatment options through "Right to Try," and use technology like artificial intelligence for research in genomics and immunotherapy.
  • Recognition of Progress: Acknowledges the decline in death rates for several common cancers and credits the efforts of healthcare professionals in early diagnosis, improved prevention, and enhanced treatment.

Stated Purpose (from the Sponsors):

The stated purpose is to unite the nation in a concerted effort to control cancer through education and cooperative means. The proclamation calls upon the American people to observe the month with programs and activities that raise awareness of the need for a national program for cancer control.

Key Facts:

Affected Sectors: Healthcare, Medical Research, Public Health.
Timeline: The proclamation pertains to April 2025.
Scope: The proclamation is directed at the people of the United States.

The Backstory: How We Got Here

Timeline of Events:

The Foundation of a National Observance (1938):

The tradition of dedicating April to cancer awareness began when Congress passed a joint resolution on March 28, 1938. This resolution requested the President to issue an annual proclamation designating April as "Cancer Control Month." President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first such proclamation in 1943, recognizing cancer as a national health enemy and calling for a united effort to combat it through education and medical examinations. Since then, it has become an annual tradition for the President to issue a proclamation to this effect.

Evolving National Strategies:

Over the decades, the focus of national cancer efforts has evolved. In the early 2010s, proclamations emphasized preventive care, with the Affordable Care Act mandating coverage for certain screening tests at no extra cost. A significant bipartisan push to accelerate cancer research came in the form of the "Cancer Moonshot" initiative, launched in 2016 and re-ignited in 2022, with the goal of significantly reducing cancer death rates. This initiative fostered collaboration between government agencies, private companies, and researchers to fast-track progress in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Why Now? The Political Calculus:

  • The issuance of this proclamation in April 2025 continues a long-standing presidential tradition.
  • The proclamation highlights the establishment of the "Make America Healthy Again Commission" in February 2025. This commission is tasked with investigating the root causes of chronic diseases in the U.S., with an initial focus on children. Its creation signals a policy emphasis on diet, environmental factors, and lifestyle changes as key to public health.
  • The mention of "Right to Try" laws reflects a continued commitment to a policy signed into federal law in 2018. These laws aim to give terminally ill patients access to experimental treatments that have not yet been approved by the FDA.

Your Real-World Impact

The Direct Answer: This proclamation directly affects the general public by raising awareness and encouraging preventative health actions, while also impacting cancer patients, their families, and the healthcare and research industries by highlighting national priorities.

What Could Change for You:

Potential Benefits:

  • Increased Awareness: A national focus on cancer control can motivate individuals to learn more about prevention and early detection.
  • Healthier Lifestyle Choices: The proclamation's emphasis on diet, exercise, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol may encourage healthier habits.
  • Earlier Diagnosis: Encouragement of regular screenings could lead to cancers being found at earlier, more treatable stages.
  • Support for Research: Continued high-level focus on cancer can help maintain momentum for research funding and the development of new treatments.

Possible Disruptions or Costs:

Short-term (During April 2025):

  • There are no direct costs or disruptions for the general public associated with this proclamation.

Long-term:

  • Policy initiatives highlighted in the proclamation, such as the "Make America Healthy Again Commission," could eventually lead to new regulations or public health guidelines that affect food production, healthcare practices, or environmental standards.

Who's Most Affected:

Primary Groups: Cancer patients, cancer survivors, and their families; healthcare professionals; and medical researchers.
Secondary Groups: The general public, who are encouraged to take preventative health measures.
Regional Impact: There is no specific regional impact outlined in the proclamation.

Bottom Line: For the average American, this proclamation serves as a reminder of the importance of cancer prevention and may prompt a conversation with a doctor about screening and a healthier lifestyle.

Where the Parties Stand

Republican Position: "Lowering Costs and Expanding Choice"

Core Stance: The Republican party generally supports efforts to find cures for diseases like cancer and has historically supported federal research. Their platform often emphasizes lowering healthcare costs, increasing transparency, and expanding patient choice through measures like "Right to Try."

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ Support for innovative research and therapies to cure cancer.
  • ✓ Emphasis on private-sector partnerships and cutting-edge technologies like AI in medicine.
  • ✓ Policies like "Right to Try" that expand options for terminally ill patients.
  • ⚠️ Concerns have been raised by some within the party about the overall cost of healthcare and the size of federal health agencies. Some Republican-led budget proposals have included cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which funds a significant amount of cancer research.

Legislative Strategy: The strategy often involves promoting market-based solutions to lower healthcare costs, reducing regulatory burdens on pharmaceutical companies, and supporting federal research initiatives while aiming to control overall government spending.

Democratic Position: "Healthcare as a Right"

Core Stance: The Democratic party's platform asserts that healthcare is a right and supports strengthening and expanding the Affordable Care Act to ensure broader access to coverage. They have championed initiatives like the Cancer Moonshot to accelerate research and improve patient outcomes.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ Strong support for robust federal funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute.
  • ✓ Advocacy for expanding access to preventative screenings and care, particularly for underserved communities.
  • ✓ Efforts to lower prescription drug costs through government negotiation.
  • ✗ Opposition to budget cuts for cancer research and public health programs. They have argued that some Republican proposals would undermine the fight against cancer.

Legislative Strategy: Democrats typically push for increased federal investment in cancer research, expanding access to affordable health insurance, and implementing policies to make prescription drugs more affordable. They focus on a strong government role in public health and research.

Constitutional Check

The Verdict: ✓ Constitutional

Basis of Authority:

The authority for this proclamation stems from a joint resolution of Congress, specifically Public Law 75-455, which was approved on March 28, 1938. This law is now codified in the U.S. Code.

36 U.S.C. 103: "The President is requested—(1) to issue each year a proclamation designating April as Cancer Control Month; and (2) to invite each year the chief executive officers of the States, territories, and possessions of the United States to issue proclamations designating April as Cancer Control Month."

Constitutional Implications:

[Delegated Authority]: The proclamation is an exercise of a power requested by Congress through a duly passed law. It does not create new law or appropriate funds but rather fulfills a ceremonial and awareness-raising function established by the legislature.
[Precedent]: There is a long-standing and unbroken precedent of Presidents from both parties issuing this proclamation annually since the 1930s.
[Federalism]: The proclamation respects the principles of federalism by inviting state and territorial governors to issue their own similar proclamations, rather than mandating any action at the state level.

Potential Legal Challenges:

There are no significant legal vulnerabilities associated with this proclamation. It is a well-established, non-controversial exercise of presidential authority rooted in a congressional request.

Your Action Options

TO SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THIS PROCLAMATION

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121. "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I urge [Rep./Sen. Name] to support increased funding for cancer research at the NIH and NCI."
  • Schedule a Screening: Talk to your doctor about what cancer screenings are right for you.

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Write a Detailed Email: Find contact information for members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, which oversee public health and research.
  • Join an Organization: Advocacy groups like the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network work to advance public policy on cancer.

TO OPPOSE SPECIFIC POLICIES MENTIONED

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121. "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I am concerned about [mention specific policy, e.g., potential cuts to the NIH, the approach of the 'Make America Healthy Again Commission'] and I urge [Rep./Sen. Name] to oppose it."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Write a Letter to the Editor: Voice your concerns about specific administration policies related to health and science in your local newspaper.
  • Join an Organization: Groups that advocate for different approaches to healthcare and research can provide resources and a platform for your concerns.