The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) was honored to join Congresswoman and Congressional Endometriosis Caucus Co-Chair Nikema Williams (GA-05) for a press conference and a congressional reception on May 23 celebrating the reintroduction of the Endometriosis CARE Act. SWHR President and CEO Kathryn Schubert, MPP, CAE, gave remarks during both events.
Introduced during Women’s Health Month, the Endometriosis CARE Act would provide $50 million annually to advance endometriosis research, expand access to treatment, and improve public awareness of endometriosis. As Ms. Schubert shared in a quote for the legislation’s press release:
“Endometriosis is a public health crisis that is deserving of our attention. It affects more than 6.5 million women in the United States, often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years, and has significant social and economic implications. Tackling this condition requires a multi-faceted approach that includes dedicated research funding and improving our national education and awareness efforts. The Endometriosis CARE Act of 2024 will help bridge the gaps that currently exist for endometriosis and—most importantly—will improve health and quality of life outcomes for women across the country. We thank Representatives Williams, González-Colón, Underwood, and Adams for their leadership to improve endometriosis outcomes and urge Congress to swiftly pass this legislation.”
The press conference also featured remarks from Lauren Kornegay, founder and executive director of Endo Black, Inc.; Shannon Cohn, film director and producer of ‘Below the Belt;’ and Dan Martin, scientific and medical director of the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EndoFound).
The evening event, the Endometriosis Caucus Reception for Women’s Health Month, was hosted by SWHR, Endo What?, and Endo Black, Inc., in collaboration with the Congressional Endometriosis Caucus and featured remarks from Congresswoman Williams and Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Director Diana Bianchi, MD. The event was sponsored by EndoFound and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
SWHR has long sought to improve endometriosis outcomes. Beyond work through our Endometriosis Program, SWHR supported the first iteration of the Endometriosis CARE Act, introduced by Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) in 2022, and has advocated for dedicated funding for endometriosis research given the disease burden and prevalence. In September 2023, SWHR’s Endometriosis Education Working Group members met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to educate them about the challenges women living with endometriosis face and to discuss the importance of prioritizing endometriosis research funding.
For more information, check out the following:
- Press Release | Congresswoman Williams Introduces Legislation to Make Critical Investments in Endometriosis Research
- Press Event | Endometriosis CARE Act Presser
- Bill Text | H.R.8565 – To advance research, promote awareness, and provide patient support with respect to endometriosis, and for other purposes