Senator Murray Reintroduces Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women’s Health Act to Increase Access to Life-Saving Cancer Screenings

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and former chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, reintroduced the Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women's Health Act, legislation that would increase the availability of preventive, life-saving cancer screenings at safety net health care providers like Planned Parenthood. The bill would create new grant and pilot programs to expand access to preventive services and screenings for breast and gynecological cancers-especially for low-income women and women of color-and train health care providers in providing high-quality cancer screening, early detection, and follow-up care.

Jeanette Acosta was a fierce women's health advocate, a former congressional staffer, and a White House intern in the Obama administration. In 2017, she lost her battle with cervical cancer at the age of 32.

"I'm proud to reintroduce the Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women's Health Act in honor of Jeanette Acosta, a fierce advocate who fought to make sure every woman could get the health care she needs," said Senator Murray. "Too many women suffer preventable deaths because they didn't have access to the cancer screenings that would have detected their condition early on. That is an unacceptable tragedy. We know that early detection saves lives-not to mention health care costs-and investing in preventive services to help more women get treatment before it's too late is just common sense. I'm not going to stop fighting to pass this crucial piece of legislation in Jeanette's memory."

"It is an honor that the Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women's Health Act of 2026 is in our daughter's name. Over eight years ago cervical cancer took the life of our precious and valiant daughter, Jeanette. At the young age of 32, after one year of battling her cancer and suffering incomparable pain and extensive treatment, Jeanette died from her advanced cancer. Jeanette prayed that women be spared from the agony of cervical cancer, and this bill would help to achieve her hope for many women" said Frank X. Acosta, Ph.D., Jeanette Acosta's father. "This bill will have a lasting and positive national impact in the fight against cancers that afflict women. During her own fight with cancer, Jeanette reached out and provided support and encouragement to other women coping with cancer. She also emphasized the importance of prevention against the onset of cervical cancer. Jeanette, always a warrior for social justice, wanted to shine a light on the disparities to access to prevention and cancer health services for low-income, Latina, and Black women. This bill would brightly illuminate and help to close the gap between cancer prevention and health services and the countless women who have not and may not be able to access these services. Jeanette would adamantly support this bill."

"Early detection and preventive care saves lives, and everyone deserves access to these critical health services. Planned Parenthood Federation of America is grateful to Sen. Murray for continuing to honor the legacy of former Planned Parenthood patient and health care advocate Jeanette Acosta, who worked to ensure more people can get the care they need," said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. "The Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women's Health Act is an important step to increase access to life-saving breast and gynecological cancer screenings, particularly for Black, Indigenous and Latina women who face longstanding barriers to care. We are proud of the over 500 Planned Parenthood health centers providing these essential health services to patients."

The bill is co-sponsored by: Senators Alsobrooks (D-MD), Baldwin (D-WI), Blumenthal (D-CT), Booker (D-NJ), Duckworth (D-IL), Gallego (D-AZ), Gillibrand (D-NY), Klobuchar (D-MN), Merkley (D-OR), Rosen (D-NV), Schiff (D-CA), Shaheen (D-NH), Van Hollen (D-MD), Whitehouse (D-RI), and Wyden (D-OR).

The bill is endorsed by: American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Black Women's Health Imperative, Human Rights Watch, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, National Council of Jewish Women, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women's Law Center Action Fund, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Read the full text of the legislation HERE.

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