A Democratic bill with 15 Democratic cosponsors · See all 15 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women's Health Act of 2026. Its purpose is to give women better access to preventive and life-saving cancer screenings and early detection care. The bill authorizes grants and contracts to expand preventive health services, particularly for women of color and low-income individuals. It establishes a demonstration training project for healthcare providers focusing on breast and gynecologic cancer screenings. Additionally, the legislation requires studies and reports to Congress regarding increased cancer screening access and health disparities. Finally, it creates a demonstration project focused on human papillomavirus and cervical cancer co-testing.
Yes· 3 of 17
- Scored +8
Would women be better off under this?
The entire legislation is dedicated to expanding women's access to life-saving preventive cancer screenings and specialized provider training.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Grants and demonstration projects specifically prioritize low-income, uninsured, and underinsured populations to ensure equitable access to cancer screening.
- Scored +7
Would Black Americans be better off under this?
The bill specifically addresses disproportionate mortality rates from uterine and cervical cancers affecting Black women.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 4: This section authorizes grants and contracts to expand preventive health services and life-saving cancer screenings, including Pap tests, human papillomavirus tests, and vaccinations. This is positive because it directly helps women, particularly women of color, access critical healthcare services that they might otherwise lack.
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Section 5: This section establishes a demonstration training project to train physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in up-to-date breast and gynecologic cancer screening. This provision is beneficial because it includes training on implicit bias, cultural competency, and structural racism, which aims to improve communication and care for rural, underserved, and minority communities.
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Section 7: This section creates a two-year demonstration project on human papillomavirus and cervical cancer co-testing, prioritizing low-income, uninsured, or medically underserved populations. This is a positive step because it provides funding for culturally and linguistically appropriate delivery models, such as interpretation services, to improve health outcomes for women facing disproportionate rates of cervical cancer.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 4: This section authorizes the appropriation of twenty million dollars for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2029 to carry out the grant program. Some individuals may view the allocation and spending of federal taxpayer funds as a negative financial burden on the public.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would women be better off under this? — The entire legislation is dedicated to expanding women's access to life-saving preventive cancer screenings and specialized provider training. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill specifically addresses disproportionate mortality rates from uterine and cervical cancers affecting Black women. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Grants and demonstration projects specifically prioritize low-income, uninsured, and underinsured populations to ensure equitable access to cancer screening. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — The bill targets Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women who face specific rising rates of certain cancers. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The legislation provides culturally and linguistically appropriate delivery models and co-testing to assist Hispanic and Latina women. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Indigenous and Native women, who experience higher death rates from certain cancers, are prioritized in the outreach and training initiatives. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill includes explicit provisions and training for healthcare providers serving rural and underserved communities facing unique barriers to care. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Middle-income families benefit from expanded access to preventive healthcare and cancer screenings. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill's programs and demonstration projects prioritize older women who face declining screening rates as they age.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The legislation directly increases women's access to preventive and life-saving cancer screenings, diagnostics, and provider education. Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill mandates federal studies and analyses on cancer screening access, health disparities, and early detection savings. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill prioritizes and engages entities that furnish services to individuals enrolled in State Medicaid programs to expand cancer screening access.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — The bill heavily focuses on improving health outcomes, screenings, and specialized care specifically for women. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The legislation specifically targets women of color and underserved populations to address healthcare disparities and combat structural racism in medicine. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By prioritizing low-income, uninsured, and medically underserved populations, the bill helps alleviate the financial burdens of preventable late-stage cancer.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires detailed periodic studies and reports to Congress regarding cancer screening rates, disparities, and federal savings.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — By investing in preventive healthcare and cancer screenings for women, the bill promotes long-term workforce productivity and economic stability.
- 9/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/24/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 14 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Jacky RosenDemocrat · Nevada
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocrat · Rhode Island