Advocacy Newsletter: July 2025

Dear ZERO Advocates,

2025 keeps marching on, and so does the news from D.C. In fact, the news has been marching at a pace this newsletter cannot match, so you may have heard about the launch of the Prostate Policy Pulse! In an effort to keep up with the policy twists and political turns, the Pulse brings you the latest news from Washington, laying out what we know, what we don't, and what it means for the prostate cancer community. If a quarterly newsletter isn't satisfying your taste for all the latest updates, please check out the Prostate Policy Pulse and sign up to receive an email when it is updated.

I'm sure every single one of you saw the news about former President Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis. As the entire nation got a rapid education on PSA testing and prostate cancer diagnosis, we saw a real uptick in interest on Capitol Hill for anything prostate-related. That's a good thing, because we have plenty of prostate-related issues to discuss.

As I write this, the House of Representatives is considering the budget reconciliation bill, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including a number of provisions that will reduce health insurance coverage for many Americans, including some living with or at risk for prostate cancer. The President's budget request for fiscal year 2026 includes large cuts to the National Cancer Institute and completely eliminates the CDC's cancer prevention programs. And that's just two of the recent headlines that have our team working tirelessly to represent the needs of the prostate cancer community.

As always, we can't do it without you, our loudest advocates. Please keep checking out our Action Center and share the link with a friend. Your stories make the difference.

Thank you for your commitment to the cause.

	VP, Government Relations & Advocacy

Federal Advocacy Update

In March, the full-year FY2025 continuing resolution dealt a 57 percent cut to the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, home of the Prostate Cancer Research Program. However, it was a few more weeks before we knew that the PCRP sustained a 32 percent reduction in funding. That was better than the complete elimination suffered by most of the CDMRP's individual programs, but still a substantial cut to the most impactful federal investment in prostate cancer research. We're working with our partners in the cancer research space and congressional champions to restore the funding and protect it going forward, but we face a challenging funding environment.

Also on the appropriations front, the first step in the annual funding process is the release of the President's budget request. This year, the President's FY26 discretionary budget request included a number of concerning items, including substantial cuts to the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute, the crown jewels of the American biomedical research ecosystem. The budget proposal also eliminates the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control at the CDC, which includes screening programs, awareness efforts, and cancer registries. ZERO has been working with a number of partners to ensure that these efforts are protected in the appropriations process. We led a group of over 100 organizations in a letter to the Secretary of HHS expressing our concerns over the cuts. Learn more about the President's budget request over at the Prostate Policy Pulse.

Still underway, at the time of this writing, are negotiations and votes on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the reconciliation bill. The version passed by the Senate included even more massive cuts to Medicaid and changes to the ACA marketplace plans than the earlier House-passed bill did. According to the Congressional Budget Office estimate, the Senate version of the bill would cause about 17 million people to become uninsured. The bill is now being considered in the House, where passage is unclear at the time of this writing. Keep checking the Pulse for updates and make sure to let your Members of Congress know what Medicaid means for their constituents.

State Advocacy Update

The state legislative session this year was unprecedented. While 42 states have concluded their legislative activities, eight states (California, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) will continue their work through the summer and fall.

During this session, ZERO has been instrumental in passing significant state bills aimed at improving healthcare access and affordability:

• Virginia: Reduced out-of-pocket costs for prostate cancer screening for high-risk patients.
• Vermont: Mandated private insurance coverage for PSA screening for high-risk patients.
• Connecticut, Nebraska, New Jersey: Required biomarker testing coverage by private insurers.
• Texas: Provided no-cost PSA and cancer screenings for at-risk firefighters and protected patients from adverse insurance practices.
• Maine, Virginia, Vermont: Offered medical debt relief initiatives.

Looking ahead, ZERO is committed to advancing key legislation in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maine, and New Jersey. These bills aim to ensure no-cost prostate cancer screenings for high-risk men through private insurance coverage.

• Ohio and Pennsylvania: Our bills have the potential to pass this year. We urge you to support these efforts by participating in our campaigns for Ohio HB 33 and Pennsylvania HB 281/SB447.
• Maine and New Jersey: These bills are under review and poised for passage next year. If you're in New Jersey, please join our campaign for NJ A1841 / S3060 to rally your lawmakers' support.

Your involvement is crucial in driving these legislative successes. Together, we can make a significant impact on healthcare access and affordability.

You're Invited: Prostate Cancer Advocacy at Home Webinar

Join us for an empowering evening on Wednesday, July 9, at 7:00 PM Eastern Time. Discover how you can influence change and improve outcomes for prostate cancer patients without leaving your community. Hear from the ZERO team as they guide you through the latest in prostate cancer advocacy. This is your chance to make a significant impact this summer. Register now and be part of the change!

Save the Date for the 2026 ZERO Advocacy Summit - February 22-24, 2026

Amidst the whirlwind of activity on Capitol Hill, your voice is crucial now more than ever, which is why every February, advocates from across the nation converge in D.C. to champion policies that support prostate cancer patients, survivors, and their families. Your participation is vital—stay tuned for more details coming soon.

Want to support our state & federal advocacy efforts? Consider making a donation here today.