The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution designating November as National Lung Cancer Awareness Month and supporting early detection of lung cancer, a crucial awareness with smoking on the rise among young adults.

According to the resolution, approved on December 1, 2020, the Senate will:

  • Support the goals and ideals of National Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
  • Promote efforts to increase awareness of and education about lung cancer and lung cancer screening.
  • Recognize the need for research on the early diagnosis, screening, and treatment of lung cancer.
  • Encourage the American public to observe National Lung Cancer Awareness Month with appropriate awareness and educational activities.

U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) were the lead sponsors and introduced the resolution in November 2020. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), John Boozman (R-AK), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Shelley Capito (R-WV) were cosponsors.

“We need to take every possible step to fight this terrible disease that kills tens of thousands of people in Minnesota and across the country each year,” Smith said.