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H8535
2026 -- H 8535
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LC006032
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING THE SECOND WEEK IN MAY 2026 TO BE "LUNG CANCER ACTION
WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By:
Representatives Azzinaro, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Kennedy, Phillips,
Noret, Finkelman, Serpa, Fellela, and Santucci
Date Introduced:
May 12, 2026
Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, The American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE initiative has been
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working since 2014 to ensure that fewer people are diagnosed with lung cancer and those living
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with the disease live longer; and
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WHEREAS, Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United
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States, accounting for more deaths than colon cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer
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combined; and
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WHEREAS, Lung cancer screening saves lives, and advocacy and increased awareness
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will result in more high-risk individuals obtaining recommended screening; and
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WHEREAS, One in 16 men and one in 17 women in the United States will develop lung
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cancer during their lifetimes, and approximately 62 to 84 percent of high-risk adults are not
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familiar with lung cancer screening and the low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan; and
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WHEREAS, Each year, more women die from lung cancer than from breast cancer,
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cervical cancer and ovarian cancer combined; and
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WHEREAS, Approximately 10 to 20 percent of lung cancers are unrelated to smoking,
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and the proportion of lung cancers diagnosed in individuals who have never smoked is increasing
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in the United States. The 5-year survival rate for localized lung cancer is 61 to 65 percent, yet a
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majority of lung cancers are diagnosed at a distant stage, for which the 5-year survival rate is 7 to
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10 percent, and
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WHEREAS, Screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) can detect lung
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cancer in its earliest stages and ultimately save lives, yet only 3 to 6 percent of high-risk
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individuals in the United States undergo lung cancer screening; and
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WHEREAS, Veterans are 25 percent more likely to develop lung cancer compared to the
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general public, and although approximately 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 veterans have an elevated risk
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of lung cancer and are eligible for screening, less than 3 percent of veterans receive appropriate
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screening; and
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WHEREAS, Black men have the highest incidence of lung cancer and the highest
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mortality rate from lung cancer in the United States, and non-White individuals are 15 percent
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less likely to be diagnosed early; and
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WHEREAS, Lung cancer research is leading to breakthroughs in biomarker identification
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and the development of immunotherapies and targeted therapies that are highly effective for some
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cancer subtypes, yet accessing cutting-edge diagnostic testing can be difficult. Public support for
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research funding will result in new treatments and better methods of early detection; and
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WHEREAS, LUNG FORCE is a national initiative led by the American Lung
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Association to defeat lung cancer; and
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WHEREAS, Educational efforts can increase awareness of lung cancer and lung cancer
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screening among the general public, patients and families, and health care professionals, thereby
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increasing early detection of lung cancer; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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designates the second week in May 2026 as "Lung Cancer Action Week" throughout the state in
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order to promote efforts to increase awareness of lung cancer education, research on mitigation of
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risk factors, lung cancer screening, treatment, and issues affecting minorities and individuals who
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have never smoked. This House also encourages the people of Rhode Island to observe "Lung
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Cancer Action Week" with appropriate educational activities to learn more about lung cancer, its
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risk factors, early detection, and the best ways to take preemptive action; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the American Lung Association.
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